Belarus Headlines 44

Aliaksandr Lukashenka Talks to Grybauskaite in Vilnius. Belarusian Police Break up Opposition Demonstration in Minsk. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Wednesday (September 16) he was not about to change his authoritarian ways just to gain favour with Europe, stressing that his country would remain a strategic ally of Russia. "Europeans must understand they can't make us do something that we do not want," he told an economic forum in Lithuanian capital. "We know what are the best interests of our nation. We are not going to tear down the constitutional order." Lukashenka made a rare visit to neighbouring Lithuania the first in 12 years and the second trip to a European Union and NATO member since an EU travel ban on top Belarusian officials had been lifted earlier this year. EU officials have hinted that Belarus needs to implement more democratic and political reforms by November if it wants closer ties and aid from the 27-nation bloc.

• Месца выхаду: Brussels
• Дата выхаду: 2009-09-17
• Copyright: © 2009 by Belarus Headlines
• Кнігазбор: Kamunikat.org