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Belarus
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Kremlin said to be developing plan for partitioning Georgia
Since the start of this year, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea and pushed for Ukraine’s “federalization.” The severe international concern caused by these actions was further compounded last month (August 2014) by Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statement in Yalta that after Moscow subdues Ukraine, it will move against other post-Soviet countries in order to rebuild the Russian Empire. Not surprisingly, many countries in the region have thus been forced to consider where the Kremlin might move next and what means it might employ against them—from demands for “federalization” to open aggression. […]
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Foreign affairs
Belarus wants to step up trade in agriculture products with Lithuania
Belarus will not join Russia’s sanctions against the European Union (EU) and wants to step up trade in milk and beef with Lithuania, says Agriculture Minister Virginija Baltraitienė. […]
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Lithuanian political scientist says Belarus could be next victim or Russian aggression
After a visit to Minsk, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius said that Lithuania had to maintain a dialogue with the government of Belarus. The minister pointed out that despite events in Ukraine, Western leaders continue to meet with Vladimir Putin, so why the dialogue with Minsk would be impossible? […]
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Belarus and the “end of peace” in Europe
On 31 July, the international Contact Group, which aims to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, met in Zaslavl, Belarus. It was attended by former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, some representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and Adelheid Tagliavini, the representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). […]
Economy
Belarus and Kazakhstan still accept Lithuanian products
Belarus and Kazakhstan, members of the Moscow-dominated Customs Union, accept Lithuanian food products and are not stopping cargo at the border. […]
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Belarus: Asymmetric ties and a balancing act
The geopolitical perspective that Belarus is being squeezed between Russia and the European Union remains relevant. New information continues to reveal modest but noticeable attempts to improve Belarus’s relations with the West as well as the ambivalent role of Russia, Belarus’s most important ally and sponsor. […]
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Amid Crisis, Belarus re-examines its political and security situation
Belarus will host the latest round of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Minsk on 1 August as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continues to push his country as a mediator in the crisis. Lukashenko’s motivation is not altruistic, however, as Belarus is not immune to the competition between Russia and the West over the strategic borderland countries of the former Soviet periphery. […]
Economy
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Foreign Ministry says Lithuania does not retract criticism of Belarusian NPP project
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry refuses to confirm recent statements by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei’s that Lithuania allegedly accepts Minsk’s propositions regarding Astravyets nuclear plant. […]
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Foreign affairs
Economy
Belarusian tourists exchange Crimea for Lithuanian resorts
The Crimean annexation by Russia has played out big for Lithuania: holidaymakers from Belarus, who usually choose Crimea for their vacation, this summer have been swarming Lithuanian resorts instead. The numbers of Belarusian tourists in Lithuania could be even higher if it were not for the lengthy and often intimidating visa procedures. […]
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Why does Lukashenko speak Belarusian on Independence Day?
Belarus’s Independence Day is celebrated on 3 July. On that day, 70 years ago, Minsk was liberated from the Nazi occupiers. This 3 July, President Vladimir Putin of Russia participated in Minsk’s celebration. Two days prior to that event, during a grand ceremonial meeting devoted to the national holiday, President Alexander Lukashenko delivered part of his speech in Belarusian. […]
Opinion
Opinion: Why are our neighbours poaching our history?
It is a country’s business what monument, where and how it will be built or demolished. For instance, the Poles have built a statue of urinating Lenin, the Lithuanians seem not to be able to wipe out the symbols of the Soviet reality overlooking the capital from the Green Bridge (should we hold a referendum?), and the Russians may return the Stalingrad name to Volgograd or call it Putingrad – of course, with many busts of the “leader of nations” or the current militant president… […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian foreign minister: Everyone’s talking to Putin, why can’t we talk to Belarus?
Lithuania must maintain a dialogue with the Belarusian government, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius said on Wednesday, noting that Western leader are holding meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite ongoing events in Ukraine. […]
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President’s adviser Neliupšienė on Belarus and her new book
The Lithuania Tribune/DELFI spoke with Dr. Jovita Neliupšienė, the Chief Advisor on Foreign Policy to President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Dr. Neliupšienė headed a research team for the book ‘Belarusian Regime Longevity: Happily Ever After…’ Just before the presentation of the book, Dr. Neliupšienė spoke to the Lithuania Tribune about the book and the reasons for the Belarusian president’s longevity. […]
Economy
Lithuania, Israel could trade in gas – President
Israel could supply gas to Lithuania in the future, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said during a meeting with Israeli businessmen in Vilnius on Tuesday. […]
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“Ukraine” worst word in Belarus now – opposition in Vilnius
“Ukraine” is now the worst word in Belarus, representatives of the Belarusian opposition said in Vilnius on Monday, also stating that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has found himself in a standstill in terms of the country’s relations with Russia. […]