VZCZCXRO9377
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVL #0668 2261030
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131030Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2655
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VILNIUS 000668
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR BO GG
SUBJECT: BELARUS: SPAT WITH RUSSIA OVER GEORGIA
REF: VILNIUS 663
1. (SBU) The neutrality of the Belarusian regime with regar...
UNCLAS VILNIUS 000668 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR BO GG
SUBJECT: BELARUS: SPAT WITH RUSSIA OVER GEORGIA REF: VILNIUS 663 1. (SBU)
The neutrality of the Belarusian regime with regard to the conflict in Georgia (reftel) has now become the topic of a
public bilateral dispute between Minsk and Moscow. Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov, in remarks to the media August
12, decried the GOB's "timid silence" and complained that the Belarusian position was "completely incomprehensible.
Citing mutual responsibilities with the Russia-Belarus "Union State", Surikov complained that Russia supports Belarus
internationally -- opposing, for example, U.S. economic sanctions on Belarusian leaders -- and has a right to expect
support in return.
2. (SBU) A response to Surikov's remarks has been provided by Aleksandr Zimovskiy, Belarusian National State Television
and Radio Company Chairman, who spoke to independent press agency Belapan August 12. Zimovskiy, after first deferring to
the separate upcoming meetings of the countries' presidents and prime ministers, accusing Putin of snubbing Lukashenko
while at the Olympics in Beijing: "Putin [formally Prime Minister of the Union State] was discussing the Caucasian issue
not with his formal chief [Lukashenko, Head of the Union State] and legal ally but with others. It follows from this,
that Belarus considers Russia to be its ally historically and permanently, but Russia considers Belarus its ally at the
moment when it is politically and economically expedient. At the beginning, the Russians gave us to understand: 'We'll
be fine without you.' That's understandable. And then they get upset: 'Why have you abandoned us?' This is silly."
Comment -------
3. (SBU) Minsk and Moscow get into minor tussles from time to time, and from our perspective this current spat does not
in itself presage any major change in the bilateral relationship (or better prospects for reforms in Belarus). The
cancellation or postponement of the upcoming encounters between Presidents Lukashenko and Medvedev or Prime Ministers
Sidorskiy and Putin, were that to happen, would indicate a deeper rift. MOORE LEADER