BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Posted on Thursday, April 21 @ 08:08:08 EDT

US Attacks Belarus

Topic: International News Stories

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thinks Belarus should be the next former Soviet republic to establish democracy, AP reported Thursday.

Belarus "is really the last dictatorship in the center of Europe, and it's time for a change in Belarus," AP quoted Rice as saying Wednesday after a visit to Russia.

During her meeting Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rice offered assurances that the United States is not interested in a power grab in former Soviet republics.

U.S. actions in these states "are not in any way anti-Russian or designed to diminish Russian influence," Rice said she told Putin, AP reports.

Rice has designated Belarus as one of six "outposts of tyranny". In his decade in power, Lukashenko has stifled dissent, persecuted independent media and opposition parties and prolonged his power through fraudulent elections. He has also made no secret of his desire to reunite his country with Russia.

Lukashenko has repeatedly accused the United States and NATO of harboring aggressive intentions against Belarus, AP adds.

The congressionally funded International Republican Institute, based in Washington, provides specialized training for democratic youth and women in Belarus. It also provides assistance to reform-oriented parties and literature development and distribution.

(Mosnews.com)

Source:

http://egyptelection.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=555