Enemy of my enemy

The Prime Minister of Belarus involved his Russian colleague in the fight against “American imperialism”

Belarus yesterday used an ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of the union state to settle political scores with the United States.

The Belarusian authorities found it very offensive that the US administration decided to extend the so-called “Belarus Democracy Act of 2004” for another two years. The document introduces economic sanctions , first of all prohibiting any financial assistance to Belarus. It also instructs the IMF, the World Bank and other financial institutions to vote against loans to Belarus. The last straw, which obviously pissed off official Minsk, was the freezing of the accounts of high-ranking officials of the country , starting with President Alexander Lukashenko. And so the Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky yesterday dared to rebuke the West. Only for some reason he did this not from Minsk, but hiding behind Moscow.

The action called “Belarusian bridgehead. Now in Russia” took place after negotiations between Russian and Belarusian prime ministers Viktor Zubkov and Sergei Sidorsky and a short meeting of the Council of Ministers of the union state, which managed to consider 16 issues in an hour. When, at the end of the events, the heads of government came out to the press, nothing foreshadowed a storm in a teacup.

In the good-neighborly, allied relations of Russia and Belarus, from time to time punctuated by gas and oil, trade and customs wars, everything has been relatively smooth lately. Trade turnover promises to reach $25 billion by the end of this year. Although controversial, but extremely populist agreements have been signed on equal price conditions for rail transportation and the supply of medicines. Russia provided Belarus with a loan of $1.5 billion on indecently disinterested conditions (according to Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, the money had already gone to Minsk yesterday). And it seems ready to pay another 2 billion.

Before the New Year, an agreement was reached on the supply of Russian energy resources to Belarus. Plans are being made to conclude a customs union. In general, an oil painting, if not for the enemies.

Who would have given Mr. Sidorsky's statement about US aggressiveness so much significance if he had made it in Minsk rather than in Moscow? But the chosen format - against the backdrop of the Russian flag and the Russian Prime Minister - set off the matter-of-fact protest of the Belarusian prime minister. Mr. Sidorsky, having reached Russia and comprehended the 2004 Act, said that the United States had taken “measures of economic pressure on his country for political reasons.” Although the Americans have never hidden this, believing that the leadership of Belarus is trampling on democracy and human rights. In this regard, Mr. Sidorsky stated that “the United States violated its obligations,” “the norms of the UN Charter,” and “the principles of non-interference.” According to him, “the actions taken against Belarus are discriminatory.”

The Belarusian prime minister certainly expected the support of his Russian counterpart, saying: “I shared with Viktor Alekseevich my concerns regarding the introduction of unilateral sanctions.” And Mr. Zubkov literally extended a helping hand to his colleague; fortunately, there is no need to persuade Russian officials to practice anti-American rhetoric. The Russian prime minister called the decision of the US Congress and administration “politicized.” “We proceed from the inadmissibility of attempts to exert pressure on Belarus under various pretexts,” noted Mr. Zubkov. “We must strive to consistently lead to the abolition of this decision.” And as if by chance, he once again demonstrated to his allies what Belarus is worth - alone and together with Russia.

Vera KUZNETSOVA