BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/12/2006

Belarus official threatens more HIV-migrants, terrorists, into EU

dpa German Press Agency

Minsk - Belarusian senator Nikolai Cherginey on Monday threatened the European Union with a wave of illegal migrants - some of them HIV-positive and others terrorists - if the EU fails to show "appreciation." "Belarus on its borders and along roads to the EU arrests dozens and even hundreds of (migrants) infected with HIV, or persons suspected of terrorism or participating in organized crime," Cherginey said at a Minsk press conference.

"European voters will not say 'thank you' to their elected officials, if Belarus weakens the control over its borders."

Cherginey made the comments in response to a question on Belarus' position towards recent EU criticism of Belarus' authoritarian regime, and especially recent crack-downs on opposition leaders.

Belarusian relations with the EU are practically non-existent.

Nevertheless, an increasingly cash-strapped Belarus has called on the EU for financial assistance, in order to help prevent illegal migrants from travelling from Belarus to its EU neighbours Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Source:

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Belarus_official_threatens_more_HIV_12042006.html