Tuesday, June 23, 2009

EU proposed Minsk credits in exchange for the enterprise.

Plot "milk war" with Belorussiey22.06.2009RF twice expanded list of dairy products
   European Commissioner for Foreign Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated that the EU is a condition of the country of large loans and the privatization of the sale to European investors with the key Belarusian enterprises. On this June 23, writes the newspaper Kommersant, citing to sources close to the negotiations.
Ferrero-Waldner visited Belarus on 22 June and on behalf of the EU has granted the State a credit of 10 million euros. Interviewees Kommersant experts said that this amount is too small: to rescue the economy must be at least 7 billion euros. According to the publication, previously Russia also promised big loans to Belarus in exchange for control of key enterprises of the country. Thus, now Minsk needed quickly to make a choice between cooperation with Russia and the EU.
According to Kommersant, another prerequisite for the development of cooperation which the EU introduced Belarus - cast the electoral legislation in line with the standards of the OSCE. And the law should be changed by the next election. Also from Minsk demanded simplification of the registration of non-governmental organizations, the introduction of freedom of speech and assembly. Finally, Ferrero-Waldner told Lukashenko that Belarus should solve the problem of political prisoners.
Kommersant said that the visit Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner - the first senior European official visit to Belarus since the completion of "milk war" between Belarus and Russia. Remember, June 6, Russia banned the import of dairy products from Belarus. This explains the fact that Belarusian producers have not led to the documentation in line with the new Russian guests, as well as the fact that they are dumping prices, bad faith competition with Russian colleagues. At the same time, analysts have linked the event with a cooling of relations between the countries, which was due to the reluctance of Russia to extradite Minsk tranche loan of $ 500 million dollars. Because of the ban on import of dairy products Belorussiya ignored held these days in Russia the CSTO summit, but also threatened to close the customs border of Russia.
On 17 June it was announced that the states have agreed on all contentious issues, and "milk war" is finished. June 18, the supply of Belarusian dairy products in Russia resumed.
The EU representative for foreign policy, Christian Hohman told Kommersant that Ferrero-Waldner's visit to Belarus postponed from February, but June 15, Alexander Lukashenko called the European Commissioner, and asked her to hurry up with the arrival. In doing so, Hohman assured journalists that the visit Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner is not connected with the "milk war".
Lukashenko, according to the newspaper "Time of news" at a meeting with Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that Belarus - is "a bridge, a bridge between these monsters, like the European Union and Russia." He added that gas and oil, as well as roads and railways passing from Russia to the EU via Belarus, are in good condition, in much better shape than our neighbors. " In doing so, Lukashenko noted that Belarus wants to establish good relations with the EU, "though someone does not like it."
In recent months, Russia has agreed to issue a credit of $ 500 million of Moldova, of $ 350 million - to Cuba, in the amount of $ 500 million - Armenia. Belarus, Russia has pledged a loan of $ 1.5 billion, but the spring has refused to pay the next tranche, questioning the solvency of Minsk. IMF loans were promised Ukraine, Iceland, Belarus, Latvia, Hungary, Pakistan and other countries.

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