Polit.ru: Lukashenka congratulates anyone but Medvedev

Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who is in conflict with Russian leadership, has congratulated President Amadou Toumani Toure of the Republic of Mali and the people of that country on its 50th Independence Day.

It has been reported by the press-service of the Belarusian leader. “I am confident that the joint efforts will help us consolidate our friendly relations and develop bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two nations,” Lukashenka noted.

Thus, Polit.ru writes, the Belarusian leader continues the series of ostentatious congratulations of anyone with any holiday, except Dmitry Medvedev, who turned 45 last week. However, instead of Medvedev, Lukashenka congratulated on his birthday a comedian Yevgeny Petrosyan, and before that – Moscow’s Mayor Luzhkov, who is in an open conflict with Medvedev’s administration for his position of mayor. In this case Lukashenka obviously acted according to the principle: “enemy of my enemy”.

Congratulations as a part of a political etiquette give some insight of how relations in the top level circles are shaped. Absence of congratulations is a signal of displeasure, though congratulations do not necessarily show satisfaction.