Belarus
130. The government in Minsk appears, if anything,
more intransigent in its public attitudes towards NATO than that
of Russia. Its economy is in ruins. President Lukashenko's main
policy appears to be to recreate a 'Greater Russia' by reuniting
Belarus, Ukraine and Russia in something approaching the former
Soviet Union.[251]
There seems little enthusiasm for this project in either of his
proposed partners outside the ranks of the incorrigible remnants
of the old regime. There was also talk within Russia of 'rearming'
Belarus, or even stationing nuclear weapons there. However, we
understand that realists within the political élite, and
even within the armed forces, recognise that such a move would
be likely to backfire on Russia. But the prospects of any rapprochement
between NATO and Belarus seem remote. The present government of
Belarus will only be reconciled to the new European security order,
it would seem, when Russia is and it has no other choice, or when
President Lukachenko is replaced by a more democratic and modern-thinking
leader.
251 This proposal was referred to at several meetings
in Moscow and Kyiv between 15 and 19 March 1999 Back
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