BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/08/2007

The Belarusian front

Nuclear missiles might be leveled at Poland and based just next to its border, in Belarus. That's how the Kremlin will possibly react to the American anti-missile shield system in Poland and the Czech Republic, writes RZECZPOSPOLITA.

Review by Aleks Kropiwnicki

'Russia is opening the Belarussian front', that's how the Moscow daily newspaper Kommiersant comments on the announcement delivered last Monday by Aleksandr Surikov, the Russian Ambassador in Minsk. Yesterday His Excellency Surikov denied, in his interview with the ITAR-TASS press agency, that any plans of situating nuclear bombs on the territory of Belarus have been prepared by the Russian Federation. However, according to Kommiersant, Mr Surikov was meaning business when announcing tough measures last Monday. The newspaper points out that the whole Soviet military infrastructure has been preserved by the Belarussian authorities and can be used at any time. 'It's possible that Russia is warning us', admits Aleksander Szczyglo, the Polish Defense Minister. 'On the other hand, we are supposed withstand such pressure if we want to call ourselves a sovereign state', he says in his interview with RZECZPOSPOLITA.

Poles in the United Kingdom are getting really popular, writes DZIENNIK proudly. Next year the Londoners will take part in local elections and choose their Mayor. Of course, the current Mayor Ken Livingstone, a left wing and somewhat controversial figure, wants to be re-elected again. And he is the first candidate who has noticed the new and pretty large group of voters: Polish immigrants. As European Union citizens they can take part in local elections all around the EU. At least 50 thousand Poles living in London will be allowed to vote. So far Mr Livingstone has had several meetings with the Poles, visited Polish artists and discussed with journalists of Polish press in London. 'You are Polish Londoners', he has repeated, treating his guests with pierogi or Polish dumplings. Polish organizations in the UK are encouraging everyone to vote but they are not mentioning any particular politician, informs DZIENNIK.

This fall Polish policemen all around the country will receive new, better guns. The Police has bought 300 Glock pistols made in Austria, writes ZYCIE WARSZAWY. They are modern and much better than the old Russian Makarovs still used by the police forces in Poland. Some modern guns, including Glocks, were bought six years ago but they didn't purchase enough of them.. So far Polish gangsters have, in general, better guns than Polish policemen. 'That is why they usually win' complain the cops. Stop crying, enjoy your new Glocks, comforts ZYCIE WARSZAWY.

Four dogs are to be moved from Poland to Afghanistan to assist Polish troops fighting against Taleban, informs SUPER EXPRESS. Dana, Domel, Darko and Demon can detect hidden explosives, weapons and ammunition. They are really good and never complain. Dogs of war, indeed.

Source:

http://www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/gb/dokument.aspx?iid=57728

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