Lukashenko Has No Friends Or Money

UNCLAS MINSK 000793

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: Lukashenko Has No Friends Or Money

Ref: Minsk 440


1. Summary: Famous Russian journalist Oleg Poptsov
recently interviewed President Lukashenko on the Russian
TV channel "Tsentr". Poptsov, previously known for his
pro-democratic stance, surprisingly agreed with
Lukashenko on most topics and portrayed Lukashenko as an
honorable president. Lukashenko lambasted the
opposition, praised his corruption-free government, and
slammed Russia's lack of assistance to Belarus. On a
more personal side, Lukashenko claimed to be a poor
public servant, with little money and few friends, who
would die defending his country. End summary.


Luka's Take on the Opposition
--------------


2. On July 11, Russia's channel "TV Tsentr" broadcast
writer Oleg Poptsov's June 2 interview with President
Lukashenko. The original interview lasted three hours,
but only 20 minutes of the interview made it to TV.
Lukashenko first lambasted the opposition and explained
why they behave irresponsibly. According to the
president, the small prosperous faction of the
opposition, which he claimed to be part of, joined his
government when he came to power. Lukashenko claimed
that, unlike what is currently happening in Ukraine
where the new government has arrested, threatened to
arrest, or fired 19,000 Kuchma-era officials, he let
most incumbent government employees keep their jobs and
made sure no one harmed his rivals. Today's opposition
is much different, composed of lazy former government
officials and "mercenaries", meaning nationalists or pro-
Westerners who support any idea for a profit.


3. Lukashenko proceeded to speak of the opposition's
reaction to his decree renaming Skaryna and Masherova
Avenues to Independence and Victors' Avenues. Though
the opposition claims to favor independence, they
opposed the street names simply because it was
Lukashenko's idea. "Even if I did something that was
written in their manifesto they would still oppose it."
[Note: Poptsov, agreeing with every word, gave an
agreeable chuckle.] The president admitted he did not
like the opposition and told Poptsov that Russians would
not like it if such an opposition existed in Russia.


4. The president strongly stated that there is no base
for a revolution in Belarus because conditions that
fomented revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzia
do not exist. However, some nations continue to smuggle
money across Belarus' borders to fund the opposition and
their revolutionary goals. The president cited the
arrest of a Lithuanian who allegedly tried to bring USD
200,000 into the country (reftel) and claimed that the
border with Russia is also a trafficking route.
Lukashenko wished the Belarusian opposition was more
like the Russian opposition, which openly expresses its
opinion but does not want to see the country "fall
apart".


Education
--------------


5. Poptsov praised Lukashenko for his attention to the
youth and their education in Belarus. Lukashenko
responded that education, not health, is most important
for an individual. According to Lukashenko, a healthy
person without an education is just a healthy fool.
Healthy fools are no good for society.


The President is Poor
--------------


6. According to Lukashenko, he receives a frugal salary
of USD 1,200 a month and his ministers receive USD 800,
which the president referred to as "ridiculous."
However, Lukashenko said that he (rather than referring
to the government) provides all ministers and important
officials benefits, such as free apartments in Minsk and
transportation. Lukashenko told Poptsov that in the
village of Drozdi, he had built "little" cottages for
the ministers next to his own. [Note: The cottages are
actually quite large.] Lukashenko asked Poptsov to
imagine being a minister in Belarus and living next door
to the president. This is so that ministers can relax
with greater security (or so Lukashenko claimed).

7. Referring back to his low salary, Lukashenko claimed
he had no assets, not even an apartment or money hidden
away. He gave a sad story of how his sons had asked him
what would happen when he is no longer president.
Poptsov admitted it was a good question and Lukashenko
agreed. The president claimed he was in a corner, since
he is an honest man (and 99 percent of Belarusians
believe so),he cannot legally provide his children with
an apartment because he does not have any money. [Note:
One of his sons reportedly just imported a yellow
Lamborghini.] If he loses the presidency, he would have
to take out a loan to buy a home. Lukashenko hopes that
after his tenure, he would receive a house or some place
to live. If not, he would find a job and build an
apartment, but this would not be normal, as he has done
a lot for the country.


Not a Corrupt President
--------------


8. The president fervently denied having money hidden in
foreign countries. He referred to the opposition's
claims that he stole USD 17 billion from Belarus, noting
that the amount is three times Belarus' 2004 budget and
impossible to hide without the public's notice. "Even
if I stole only two million, where is it?" Lukashenko
told the story of when President Bush wanted to freeze
all Lukashenko's "alleged" foreign accounts and
Lukashenko in return sent Bush his income statement.


9. Lukashenko named himself a specialist in battling
corruption, noting his term as head of Parliament's anti-
corruption commission. Lukashenko claimed he shows no
leniency to friends or colleagues who misappropriate
funds, embezzle, or take brides and noted how he has
punished longtime allies for corruption. According to
the president, the public sees how he treats his
children and close allies and understands that his
attitude towards everyone else will be the same. A
leader should not forgive any mistakes or encourage
wrong behavior.


I Have No Friends
--------------


10. Another sad moment occurred when Poptsov remarked
how solitude comes with the presidency. Lukashenko
admitted that he had hit a soft spot and that as time
goes by, feelings of loneliness increases. He, unlike
Putin, does not have a close circle of friends or
colleagues. Lukashenko admitted he envied Moscow Mayor
Yury Luzhkov's ability to make friends from all walks of
life, but claimed he just does not have the same
personality as Luzhkov. However, Lukashenko does enjoys
the company of artists, singers, and composers and finds
enjoyment when he and his associates, on rare occasions,
play hockey. [Note: The camera showed pictures of
Lukashenko, in slow motion, by himself, often with his
head down with melancholic music playing in the
background.]


Go Out Kicking and Screaming
--------------


11. Lukashenko told Poptsov that he, as president,
defends Belarusians and not his power or his riches.
[Note: Lukashenko quickly corrected his statement and
said "alleged" riches.] He compared himself to former
President of Chile Salvador Allende, in that he would
defend his people, state, and power "with weapons in my
hands, alone if necessary." Lukashenko called himself a
man of ideals, principles, and pride. According to
Lukashenko, the opposition knows of these
characteristics and for this reason, would not attempt a
revolution.


Belarusian Elite More Honest
--------------


12. Lukashenko opined that a Belarus-Russia Union is
needed to thwart any revolutionary attempts in either
country. The Union should give equal rights to both
Belarusian and Russian citizens, but the Russian elite
should agree to compete with their less numerous, but
more honest, principled, educated, and dedicated
Belarusian counterparts. According to Lukashenko,
Russia is not ready for this.


13. Poptsov did not understand Lukashenko's comment and
quickly replied that a Belarus-Russia Union should focus
on a unified elite, not a competing one. Lukashenko
interrupted and accused Poptsov (as Poptsov is part of
the Russian elite) of planning to bribe Belarusian
officials and intelligentsia in order to keep them idle.


14. Lukashenko then warned Poptsov, as he allegedly did
Putin, that Russia would regret losing Belarus. "The
Japanese lay claim to some islands in Russia's control.
I say that the Russian leadership could give back the
islands, which would be difficult for Russia, but she
would live. But if Russia loses Belarus, the Russian
people will never forgive and will not survive."


Russian TV Is A Lie
--------------


15. Lukashenko commented on Russian television, accusing
it of insulting and confusing the Belarusian people.
When TV personalities or shows discuss what is happening
in Belarus, they do not tell the truth. This is not
because the television stations want to lie, but because
Anatoly Chubais orders them to do so. According to
Russian TV, Russia is helping to prevent revolutions or
drastic changes in Belarus by selling coal and energy
resources to Belarus at cheaper prices. Lukashenko
called this a farce and claimed that for the last five
years, Belarus has purchased oil, metal and other
resources from Russia at world prices (except for
natural gas).


Russia Gives Nothing
--------------


16. Lukashenko told Poptsov that Russia has done nothing
for Belarus. Lukashenko noted how Russia pays Kazakstan
USD 190 million per year for using the Baikonur
spaceport on its territory. However, Russia does not
pay Belarus for its bases that communicate with
submarines in the Atlantic and warn of American missile
attacks. According to Lukashenko, Russia owes Belarus
roughly USD 800 million dollars for the upkeep of the
two bases.


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


17. Lukashenko's claims that he and his ministers live
on less than USD 1000 are far from the truth. He lives
in a large house on the outskirts of Minsk and Emboffs
heard rumors that his son recently purchased a new
Lamborghini while many government officials are driving
new Mercedes, BMWs, Hummers, etc. around town.
Lukashenko recently purchased a Boeing 737 to ferry him
and his personal hockey team around. The clips of
Lukashenko as a man of the people who efficiently runs
the government at the expense of riches and friendship
fly in the face of reality.


18. Such an interview that portrays Lukashenko as a
heroic president and allows him to stand on his soapbox
would be expected in Belarus' state-controlled media,
but not on Russian television, which is usually critical
of the Belarusian President. TV Tsentr, however, is
owned by Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov. The station also
reportedly has two reporters in Minsk who will create
five glowing news programs on Belarus each week. A
reliable Embassy source who met with the reporters
claimed these programs are being funded by Pavel Borodin
from the Union State budget.

KROL