Milinkevich: Stabilization loan will only put Belarus into bondage to Russia :: Charter'97 :: News

The $1.5-billion stabilization loan that the Belarusian government wants to receive from Russia will not save the situation but only put the nation into bondage to the eastern neighbor, commented opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich in a statement posted on his Web site on Saturday.

"Without reforming the economy and the political system, diversifying energy supplies and opening ways to new technologies, we will remain among outsiders of the civilized world," the former presidential candidate said.

"The rhetoric of Lukashenka with regard to Moscow and ministers` big statements about only a slight increase in utility bills were just a political game and a deception of people," he said. "The authorities realize that Moscow has economic levers of pressure on Belarus in its hands, which, if used in a certain way, can lead to the destabilization of the socio-political situation in the country."

Mr. Milinkevich notd that the West`s offers of assistance in solving Belarus` problems "so far have not met with a response from the leadership of the country." "In this situation they can do only one thing - going cap in hand to Moscow," he said.