Expert: Both Yanukovich and Tymoshenko will develop relations with Belarus
Political commentator Andrei Fyodorov tells the European Radio for Belarus it does not matter for Belarus-Ukraine relations who will become Ukraine's new president.
Ukraine is scheduled to go to the presidential polls on January 17. Andrei Fydorov shares his views in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus:
“Both Yanukovich and Tymoshenko are pragmatic people. In the first place, they will support the development of economic relations with Belarus.
I think there will be no big difference between Tymoshenko and Yanukovich for Belarus. Economic ties will be a priority in bilateral relations. Our ties with Moscow will have a more significant influence on Belarus-Ukraine relations”.
In the view of the commentator, no one can really compete with Yanukovich and Tymoshenko. They are the main contenders for the post of the president.
If Belarus president Alexander Lukashenka had a chance to run for the Ukrainian presidency, Ukrainian would hardly vote for him, Fyodorov suggests.
“I think that with the free media available in Ukraine there definitely is a part of people who have a negative attitude towards him and that's an influence on the public opinion. I do not think the Belarusian leader could be a serious contender there”.
The elections in Ukraine will not affect the internal situation in Belarus, in the view of Fyodorov. Ukrainians will not get out to streets, and it will keep the Belarusian society quiet:
“One could hardly expect a new protest like the Orange Revolution. This election will be fair and transparent. The population will have no grounds to think they were deceived like in the previous time. Therefore, there will hardly be any mass protests against the government”.
Belarus' Central Election Commission secretary Mikalai Lazavik told the European Radio for Belarus that Ukraine did not invite official observers from Belarus' electoral authority. Several Belarus MPs will monitor the elections in Ukraine on behalf of the delegation of CIS countries.
Human rights NGOs from Belarus will send 50 observers, while the Vilnius-based European Humanities University is to dispatch a team of 20 observers.
Ukraine is scheduled to go to the presidential polls on January 17. Andrei Fydorov shares his views in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus:
“Both Yanukovich and Tymoshenko are pragmatic people. In the first place, they will support the development of economic relations with Belarus.
I think there will be no big difference between Tymoshenko and Yanukovich for Belarus. Economic ties will be a priority in bilateral relations. Our ties with Moscow will have a more significant influence on Belarus-Ukraine relations”.
In the view of the commentator, no one can really compete with Yanukovich and Tymoshenko. They are the main contenders for the post of the president.
If Belarus president Alexander Lukashenka had a chance to run for the Ukrainian presidency, Ukrainian would hardly vote for him, Fyodorov suggests.
“I think that with the free media available in Ukraine there definitely is a part of people who have a negative attitude towards him and that's an influence on the public opinion. I do not think the Belarusian leader could be a serious contender there”.
The elections in Ukraine will not affect the internal situation in Belarus, in the view of Fyodorov. Ukrainians will not get out to streets, and it will keep the Belarusian society quiet:
“One could hardly expect a new protest like the Orange Revolution. This election will be fair and transparent. The population will have no grounds to think they were deceived like in the previous time. Therefore, there will hardly be any mass protests against the government”.
Belarus' Central Election Commission secretary Mikalai Lazavik told the European Radio for Belarus that Ukraine did not invite official observers from Belarus' electoral authority. Several Belarus MPs will monitor the elections in Ukraine on behalf of the delegation of CIS countries.
Human rights NGOs from Belarus will send 50 observers, while the Vilnius-based European Humanities University is to dispatch a team of 20 observers.
