Lukashenko rushing between Europe, cows and oil pipe
The President of Belarus again burst into words of burning resentment against our country. “Insolent”, “hands twisted”, “answer evil with good” - all this turned out to be insidious, “Russian brothers” (once again, in the opinion of Alexander Grigoryevich). Of course, such emotional outbursts have a very distinct economic reasons lying directly on the surface. However, it is necessary to consider the issue much more broadly. Lukashenko is simply confused, and understands this perfectly. That's why the nerves are losing. What exactly is it about? Yes, here's the thing.
Recently, the head of Belarus commits in the external and internal policy “Movements” are not just chaotic and inconsistent, but sometimes completely mutually exclusive. Take for example to this day his swift raid on the cowsheds of the Shklovsky district of the Mogilev region, which ended with the announcement of one of these as “Auschwitz”. As a result, numerous officials “flew their heads” - from the head of the fined agricultural holding Kupalovskaya, chairmen of the district and regional executive committees, to the Minister of Agriculture of Belarus and the deputy prime minister, who also oversaw agrarian issues.
Giving orders to the cameras to “institute criminal proceedings”, “handcuffs” and almost immediately compile the firing lists of all those responsible for the fucked up cows, Lukashenko did not defend the interests of cows, but showed the whole country: “Here I am! I'm still the same - omnipresent, omniscient, harsh, but fair! There is still gunpowder in the powder flask, everything is under control and I am responsible for everyone and everything! ” In a word, he confirmed the status of “Old Man” ... I must say, such demarches have success unambiguously. Such demonstrative demonstrations of a “firm hand” are very impressive even for a certain (and rather considerable) part of the population.
And at the same time, the circulation of the Belorusskaya Gazeta, which allowed itself to publish a report on the “storm in the barn,” with absolutely verbatim quotes from the president’s angry tirades, who didn’t really choose expressions, was immediately removed from the stalls of the state Belpechat. A little later, the Minister of Press of Belarus Alexander Karlyukevich explained this by saying that the journalists of the publication “critical messages” were “hyperbolized”, and at the same time they “slipped into rudeness and frank vulgarity”. It’s not clear here: the most detailed, uncorrupted report from Kupalovskaya was seen by the whole country (and the whole world - thanks to the Internet), but not a newspaper? Absolutely illogical. However, perhaps, Alexander Grigoryevich somewhat belatedly attended to his reputation in front of European politicians?
In this direction, his movements are also very busy, although not quite distinct. Meeting with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz, Lukashenko scattered in praises of the European Union, calling it "one of the main pillars of stability in the world", which must be "preserved from destruction." Well, and of course, he expressed readiness for himself that there is no fruitful cooperation with the EU. This message was somewhat clarified by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Oleg Kravchenko, during a seminar with the beautiful title “Rethinking Sovereignty in the Modern World”, declaring that his country “has no desire to join the European Union” and the West should be seen only as a partner and good neighbor. At the same time, the diplomat turned the conversation to the need “to establish a dialogue between the European Commission and the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECE). With the mediation of Belarus, of course. Minsk, after choosing it as a venue for working meetings to resolve the crisis in the Donbass, seems to be very pleased with the role of a kind of neutral country and almost "the main negotiator of Europe." Alas, the almost complete failure of the Minsk Process does not work in favor of this idea.
All curtsies towards the EU, which, recall, not so long ago, Belarus, through the mouth of its Prime Minister Sergei Rumas proposed to begin work on the signing of a "basic agreement", are, again, a policy with a "double bottom". Yes, Lukashenko is not averse to improving relations with Europe. But even more, his soul is warmed by the fact that every similar step of Minsk causes an ambiguous reaction in Moscow, which, if not cool, is closer and more important as a partner. Moreover, Brussels, which has already lifted most of the sanctions in February 2016, expects something more ambitious from Alexander Grigoryevich to continue the “thaw” than just a statement of good intentions. Admission to the levers of power of representatives of the "opposition", for example - or something else in the same vein. Well, that is hardly ...
But the next ranting about the "protection of national identity" and the cultivation of the whole "national" - from the Belarusian language to embroideries, this is - as much as you like! By the way, the Secretary of State of the Security Council of Belarus Stanislav Zas, who spoke quite extensively on this subject, specified that Minsk was going to do all these things “taking into account the Ukrainian experience”. But at the same time, for some reason, he didn’t specify - the very “experience” of Ukraine, in which everything began with “movs” and embroidered shirts, and ended with Nazism, Bandera and the murders of people who speak and think Russian - it is estimated in Belarus how negative? Or maybe already - positive ?! Significant default. All these conversations sound perfectly alarming, for example, with the ban on holding a picket in Minsk this year in honor of “Unity Day with Russia” (such a decision was made for the first time in a long time!).
Lukashenko’s statements to Russia are, in fact, nothing new. Let’s recall at least October of last year, when he accused our country of treating Belarus “barbarously” as a “vassal”. Then there was friendship again ... And sacks of potatoes in the Kremlin. Now Alexander Grigoryevich is increasingly taken for the living - that is, for the treasury. Almost four dozen cars with apple pears, for which there were no proper phytosanitary control documents and which were Belarusian exclusively on paper, detained by mobile groups on the Belarusian-Russian border in the first week of April alone did not add to his good mood. Like Moscow, Minsk’s declaration of intent to raise the tariff for the transit of Russian oil to Europe by 23%. At the end of last year, it was already increased by 6.7%, at the beginning of this - by 7.6%. Now we decided to go all-in ?! It is clear that all this is an attempt to combat the upcoming “tax maneuver” in the field of export of petroleum products. However, until what time it is possible to supply fuel not even to Belarus, but to Europe and Ukraine - and at the obvious loss of Russia?
The main problem of Lukashenko is that he categorically does not accept the changes taking place around him. All his convulsive throwings are nothing more than a desperate attempt to fulfill his main dream: to leave everything as it is. And, preferably - for eternal times. Having managed, we must give him his due, for a very long time “conserve” Belarus in the form of an oasis of stability, peace and relative prosperity, Alexander Grigorievich today is trying to resist processes that are completely beyond his control. The whole world is changing - both Russia and Europe ... Belarus will have to go for certain changes. Moscow, which has acquired the finally sad Ukrainian experience, during which after more than two decades of incredible economic preferences, ultimately received a hostile state, is right and right. Almost free energy in exchange for assurances of "fraternal friendship" - and no more? Somehow not enough ... Something needs to be changed.
Today, Lukashenko threatens to “stop repair” of oil pipelines and block the path for Russian oil. Who will be worse? Belarusians, Europeans, Ukrainians, in recent years accustomed to high-quality and cheap (again - at the expense of Russia!) Belarusian gasoline. Well, let them wean. At least - until in Minsk they don’t unlearn in response to any reasonable actions of Moscow to make demarches bordering on tantrums, and understand that blackmail can in no way be the basis for normal relations between our countries.
Recently, the head of Belarus commits in the external and internal policy “Movements” are not just chaotic and inconsistent, but sometimes completely mutually exclusive. Take for example to this day his swift raid on the cowsheds of the Shklovsky district of the Mogilev region, which ended with the announcement of one of these as “Auschwitz”. As a result, numerous officials “flew their heads” - from the head of the fined agricultural holding Kupalovskaya, chairmen of the district and regional executive committees, to the Minister of Agriculture of Belarus and the deputy prime minister, who also oversaw agrarian issues.
Giving orders to the cameras to “institute criminal proceedings”, “handcuffs” and almost immediately compile the firing lists of all those responsible for the fucked up cows, Lukashenko did not defend the interests of cows, but showed the whole country: “Here I am! I'm still the same - omnipresent, omniscient, harsh, but fair! There is still gunpowder in the powder flask, everything is under control and I am responsible for everyone and everything! ” In a word, he confirmed the status of “Old Man” ... I must say, such demarches have success unambiguously. Such demonstrative demonstrations of a “firm hand” are very impressive even for a certain (and rather considerable) part of the population.
And at the same time, the circulation of the Belorusskaya Gazeta, which allowed itself to publish a report on the “storm in the barn,” with absolutely verbatim quotes from the president’s angry tirades, who didn’t really choose expressions, was immediately removed from the stalls of the state Belpechat. A little later, the Minister of Press of Belarus Alexander Karlyukevich explained this by saying that the journalists of the publication “critical messages” were “hyperbolized”, and at the same time they “slipped into rudeness and frank vulgarity”. It’s not clear here: the most detailed, uncorrupted report from Kupalovskaya was seen by the whole country (and the whole world - thanks to the Internet), but not a newspaper? Absolutely illogical. However, perhaps, Alexander Grigoryevich somewhat belatedly attended to his reputation in front of European politicians?
In this direction, his movements are also very busy, although not quite distinct. Meeting with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz, Lukashenko scattered in praises of the European Union, calling it "one of the main pillars of stability in the world", which must be "preserved from destruction." Well, and of course, he expressed readiness for himself that there is no fruitful cooperation with the EU. This message was somewhat clarified by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Oleg Kravchenko, during a seminar with the beautiful title “Rethinking Sovereignty in the Modern World”, declaring that his country “has no desire to join the European Union” and the West should be seen only as a partner and good neighbor. At the same time, the diplomat turned the conversation to the need “to establish a dialogue between the European Commission and the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECE). With the mediation of Belarus, of course. Minsk, after choosing it as a venue for working meetings to resolve the crisis in the Donbass, seems to be very pleased with the role of a kind of neutral country and almost "the main negotiator of Europe." Alas, the almost complete failure of the Minsk Process does not work in favor of this idea.
All curtsies towards the EU, which, recall, not so long ago, Belarus, through the mouth of its Prime Minister Sergei Rumas proposed to begin work on the signing of a "basic agreement", are, again, a policy with a "double bottom". Yes, Lukashenko is not averse to improving relations with Europe. But even more, his soul is warmed by the fact that every similar step of Minsk causes an ambiguous reaction in Moscow, which, if not cool, is closer and more important as a partner. Moreover, Brussels, which has already lifted most of the sanctions in February 2016, expects something more ambitious from Alexander Grigoryevich to continue the “thaw” than just a statement of good intentions. Admission to the levers of power of representatives of the "opposition", for example - or something else in the same vein. Well, that is hardly ...
But the next ranting about the "protection of national identity" and the cultivation of the whole "national" - from the Belarusian language to embroideries, this is - as much as you like! By the way, the Secretary of State of the Security Council of Belarus Stanislav Zas, who spoke quite extensively on this subject, specified that Minsk was going to do all these things “taking into account the Ukrainian experience”. But at the same time, for some reason, he didn’t specify - the very “experience” of Ukraine, in which everything began with “movs” and embroidered shirts, and ended with Nazism, Bandera and the murders of people who speak and think Russian - it is estimated in Belarus how negative? Or maybe already - positive ?! Significant default. All these conversations sound perfectly alarming, for example, with the ban on holding a picket in Minsk this year in honor of “Unity Day with Russia” (such a decision was made for the first time in a long time!).
Lukashenko’s statements to Russia are, in fact, nothing new. Let’s recall at least October of last year, when he accused our country of treating Belarus “barbarously” as a “vassal”. Then there was friendship again ... And sacks of potatoes in the Kremlin. Now Alexander Grigoryevich is increasingly taken for the living - that is, for the treasury. Almost four dozen cars with apple pears, for which there were no proper phytosanitary control documents and which were Belarusian exclusively on paper, detained by mobile groups on the Belarusian-Russian border in the first week of April alone did not add to his good mood. Like Moscow, Minsk’s declaration of intent to raise the tariff for the transit of Russian oil to Europe by 23%. At the end of last year, it was already increased by 6.7%, at the beginning of this - by 7.6%. Now we decided to go all-in ?! It is clear that all this is an attempt to combat the upcoming “tax maneuver” in the field of export of petroleum products. However, until what time it is possible to supply fuel not even to Belarus, but to Europe and Ukraine - and at the obvious loss of Russia?
The main problem of Lukashenko is that he categorically does not accept the changes taking place around him. All his convulsive throwings are nothing more than a desperate attempt to fulfill his main dream: to leave everything as it is. And, preferably - for eternal times. Having managed, we must give him his due, for a very long time “conserve” Belarus in the form of an oasis of stability, peace and relative prosperity, Alexander Grigorievich today is trying to resist processes that are completely beyond his control. The whole world is changing - both Russia and Europe ... Belarus will have to go for certain changes. Moscow, which has acquired the finally sad Ukrainian experience, during which after more than two decades of incredible economic preferences, ultimately received a hostile state, is right and right. Almost free energy in exchange for assurances of "fraternal friendship" - and no more? Somehow not enough ... Something needs to be changed.
Today, Lukashenko threatens to “stop repair” of oil pipelines and block the path for Russian oil. Who will be worse? Belarusians, Europeans, Ukrainians, in recent years accustomed to high-quality and cheap (again - at the expense of Russia!) Belarusian gasoline. Well, let them wean. At least - until in Minsk they don’t unlearn in response to any reasonable actions of Moscow to make demarches bordering on tantrums, and understand that blackmail can in no way be the basis for normal relations between our countries.
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