BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

20/09/2007

Lukashenko ready for economic cooperation with Georgia

By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili met President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, where the two discussed economic cooperation between the two former Soviet states.

The friendly visit marks a turnaround in relations for the two countries; the Rose administration has supported the Belarusian opposition, and Lukashenko is thought to fear Georgia as a 'revolution exporter.'

Lukashenko now looks secure in his position, however, while relations between Minsk and Moscow soured after a natural gas price row in 2006. Although an agreement was signed on January 1 to maintain Russian gas supplies to Belarus, it now pays almost double the previous price.

Source:

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1446_september_20_2007/eco_1446_1.html