Lukashenko Continues His Slander Campaign

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001052

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: Lukashenko Continues His Slander Campaign


1. Summary: President Lukashenko continues to slander
the U.S. and the Belarusian opposition via the state-
controlled media on a daily basis. In recent speeches
he has accused the U.S. and the West of trying to
destabilize Belarus using the country's ethnic Poles as
pawns and training revolutionaries along the border in
pro-American countries. Lukashenko opined that the
Belarusian opposition would fail in the upcoming
elections and soon disappear altogether. He noted
foreign broadcasts to Belarus do not worry him, but the
KGB will monitor them just in case. Lukashenko stressed
he would not spend excessive money on an election
campaign and disapproved of portraying himself in a
positive light. He has improved the country, not
plundered it, and therefore does not fear losing his
position. End Summary.

The U.S. Blame Game
--------------


2. At a July 26 government conference, President
Lukashenko accused the West, particularly the United
States, of trying to destabilize Belarus. Lukashenko
explained how the U.S. plans to maintain a unipolar
world by controlling Russia's exports of natural
resources. In order to do this, the U.S. must gain
control of Belarus, much like it has done with Ukraine
and the Baltics. Once Belarus has fallen, the U.S.
would control all natural resource routes between Russia
and Europe and essentially maintain its superpower
status.


3. According to the president, the U.S. and its Western
friends have set up surveillance bases in Lithuania,
Poland, and Ukraine that are training revolutionary
groups to lead an uprising in Belarus. Lukashenko
announced that his government is well aware of these
plans and will use all constitutional means available to
prevent a revolution. [Note: A law adopted in November
2004 gives Lukashenko the legitimacy to authorize police
and troops to open fire on people (i.e. protestors) when
needed.]


4. Lukashenko opined that no Western European country is
happy with U.S. politics. Similar to Latvia and
Ukraine, Poland has adopted pro-American politics and
therefore, has become "a bone in the throat" for the
rest of Europe. Washington and Warsaw are using the
ethnic Poles in Belarus as "puppets" to bring
instability to Belarus. However, Lukashenko stressed he
would not allow Belarusian citizens to be "cannon
fodder" for the U.S.

Opposition's End in Sight
--------------


5. On August 15, Lukashenko claimed the opposition
should be barred from power because they hate people.
In his words, the opposition will lose the 2006
election, realize their failures, and soon afterwards
disappear. Half of them have already left the country
to live in "villas" in the Czech Republic, Baltics,
Poland, and Germany but are battling with their
"masters" over USD 40 million allocated to launch radio
broadcasts to Belarus. The opposition is worried that
it will not get its money.

Radio Broadcasting Waste of Money
--------------


6. Lukashenko claimed he is not against foreign radio
broadcasts to Belarus and does not have time to worry
about them; this is the secret service's job. He
publicly announced that the BKGB would monitor the radio
broadcasts and inform the president if there are any
emergencies. According to Lukashenko, Lithuania, Poland
and Ukraine use their negative information and news
coverage on Belarus to distract citizens from their own
domestic problems. The President commented that,
fortunately, Belarusian journalists are winning the
information war, and therefore foreign radio broadcasts
represent a pointless waste of resources.

No Excessive Campaigning
--------------


7. The president stated that he does not "shiver" at the
thought that he may lose power because people who
constantly fear for their jobs cannot work well. After
all, the people support him for his good deeds and the
fact that he has not plundered the country. Lukashenko

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claimed his lack of fear is his biggest advantage.

Furthermore, he claimed he would not spend a lot of
money on an excessive PR and pre-election campaign
because he is not the type of president to "dust"
people's eyes and portray himself in a positive light.
The people know who Lukashenko is because his policies
have remained consistent over the years.

Comment
--------------


8. Lukashenko's slanderous statements against the West
and the U.S. in particular are increasing in frequency
and vitriol as the 2006 presidential election
approaches. Though ludicrous, his messages' constant
repetition in the state-controlled media has a
significant impact on the population thinking.

PHLIPOT