Mysterious billions of Lukaszenko
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a press conference that if all goes well, then his country would soon receive 10-12 billion dollars. But he did not explain where the money is coming from, nor for what Belarus is to receive it.
- It will be our money, not loans - said Lukashenko, then added: "For now, I simply do not want to talk about it."
Assuming that he is serious here, then the only logical explanation is a sellout of some assets. Russia wants to acquire cheap Belarusian assets in return for the financial support.
The President underlined that Belarus will not part with the current "socio-economic development model" - inform the Belarusian media. When asked about warning - appearing in some media - that the current model of Belarus may collapse, he said: "It never fell, and it will never fall down. The socio-economic model of development of the Belarusian state will survive. We will not move away from it by one iota, nor by one step"- he said.
Well, in the past many a man strongly believed in THE models. The "belief" is an operative word here: this is a religious term.
Lukashenko blamed journalists for creation of the artificial economic crisis in the country. - In the process of rising panic journalists played a big role. Anxiety on the consumer market was created with the active participation of some of the media - he stressed.
- Now they try to break Belarus using some other methods, such as that garbage, which is the internet. This new approach is already approved by some countries - he said. - They stay there and salivate - waiting for us to quickly fall down. But this will never happen - assured Lukashenko.
Yes, a typical siege mentality. "Trashy internet", "salivating beasts waiting to attack us" - one of them must be Poland, of course.
- People are worried now that prices are high, that they miss some importable goods. But we have enough to eat. And what that we have not enough money? In a few months we will get out of this situation. But most importantly, we ourselves can still produce. And if ever a disaster occurs, we will close the borders and we will be buying only this what we really need - he said.
Now, that's almost a quote from "The Animal Farm". The man sounds sick.
Belarus is currently in the deepest financial crisis since Lukashenko took power 17 years ago - it has a huge trade deficit and shortage of foreign currency. In late May, authorities were forced to devalue the Belarusian ruble against the dollar by 56 percent. Price of many goods - including fuel and cigarettes - went up dramatically.
Lukashenko pointed out on Friday that devaluation has also its good side - it is beneficial to export-oriented economies. He also claimed that there is no crisis in Belarus. "A crisis occurs when companies are being closed and people are being thrown into the streets" - the president said.
Supporters of Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut protests outside the court in Hrodna, Belarus. 23 June 2011.
There are several pictures there of small group of - mostly elderly - people and his wife, displaying his photo on the the front page of their local paper "Głos", with the heading "They will not break me". The police seems to behave quite gently. One photos shows Mrs. Poczobut climbing the courtyard fence to see how her husband is escorted to the court.
But this demonstration is nothing compared to social unrests organized via internet.
reuters.com/article/2011/06/23/us-belarus-protests-idUSTRE75M33520110623
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a press conference that if all goes well, then his country would soon receive 10-12 billion dollars. But he did not explain where the money is coming from, nor for what Belarus is to receive it.
- It will be our money, not loans - said Lukashenko, then added: "For now, I simply do not want to talk about it."
Assuming that he is serious here, then the only logical explanation is a sellout of some assets. Russia wants to acquire cheap Belarusian assets in return for the financial support.
The President underlined that Belarus will not part with the current "socio-economic development model" - inform the Belarusian media. When asked about warning - appearing in some media - that the current model of Belarus may collapse, he said: "It never fell, and it will never fall down. The socio-economic model of development of the Belarusian state will survive. We will not move away from it by one iota, nor by one step"- he said.
Well, in the past many a man strongly believed in THE models. The "belief" is an operative word here: this is a religious term.
Lukashenko blamed journalists for creation of the artificial economic crisis in the country. - In the process of rising panic journalists played a big role. Anxiety on the consumer market was created with the active participation of some of the media - he stressed.
- Now they try to break Belarus using some other methods, such as that garbage, which is the internet. This new approach is already approved by some countries - he said. - They stay there and salivate - waiting for us to quickly fall down. But this will never happen - assured Lukashenko.
Yes, a typical siege mentality. "Trashy internet", "salivating beasts waiting to attack us" - one of them must be Poland, of course.
- People are worried now that prices are high, that they miss some importable goods. But we have enough to eat. And what that we have not enough money? In a few months we will get out of this situation. But most importantly, we ourselves can still produce. And if ever a disaster occurs, we will close the borders and we will be buying only this what we really need - he said.
Now, that's almost a quote from "The Animal Farm". The man sounds sick.
Belarus is currently in the deepest financial crisis since Lukashenko took power 17 years ago - it has a huge trade deficit and shortage of foreign currency. In late May, authorities were forced to devalue the Belarusian ruble against the dollar by 56 percent. Price of many goods - including fuel and cigarettes - went up dramatically.
Lukashenko pointed out on Friday that devaluation has also its good side - it is beneficial to export-oriented economies. He also claimed that there is no crisis in Belarus. "A crisis occurs when companies are being closed and people are being thrown into the streets" - the president said.
Supporters of Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut protests outside the court in Hrodna, Belarus. 23 June 2011.
There are several pictures there of small group of - mostly elderly - people and his wife, displaying his photo on the the front page of their local paper "Głos", with the heading "They will not break me". The police seems to behave quite gently. One photos shows Mrs. Poczobut climbing the courtyard fence to see how her husband is escorted to the court.
But this demonstration is nothing compared to social unrests organized via internet.
(Reuters) - Belarus police have released most of the 200 or so protesters they detained on Wednesday night at a rally against President Alexander Lukashenko in the capital Minsk, human rights activists said on Thursday.
reuters.com/article/2011/06/23/us-belarus-protests-idUSTRE75M33520110623