“Maybe Lukashenka will read “Kommersant” and decide not to appoint Navumau”
The author of the feature in Saturday issue of a Russian newspaper “Kommersant” Uladzimir Salaueu, who predicts the dismissal of the Belarusian Prime Minister Sidorski, presented his version of the events in an interview given to ERB. He is sure that everything will be stable in Belarus in spite of all dismissals and staff rearrangement.
ERB: What is going on in Belarus? Will Prime Minister Sidorski be dismissed because of the gas or oil conflict? Is there an internal crisis coming soon in Belarus?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: It seems that all the factors have been combined here. Furthermore, Sidorki has already spent too much time in this position. As we have witnessed, Lukashenka does not let people stay in their posts for a term that is longer that the one known only to him. It is difficult to understand and define it. Moreover, there are problems in the relations between Russia and Belarus. It can be seen after a failure in the negotiations of the Belarusian delegation and “Gazprom” last week. Moreover, according to the Ministry of Statistics, Belarusian economic activities are declining. Someone should be made responsible for it. Lukashenka will find such a person.
ERB: Why do you think the information about such important Belarusian issues appears in Russian mass media?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: It is hard to say… Maybe Belarusian colleagues are not that interested in what is happening around them. As far as you understand, I cannot reveal my source but if such things are happening… If you think that it was some “leak” of information it is wrong. I was informed about it by a Belarusian source.
ERB: How high is the rank of the source?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: High enough! I don’t even want to tell you the field of the source’s activities, you should understand why.
ERB: Do you think Moscow influences Belarusian processes?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: Maybe it does, but the influence is indirect, as usual. They even like to say, “everything is connected, all our structures act together”… It can be easily understood because Sidorski’s government organizes negotiations with Moscow, not with Kiev! There must be some ways of influence. In spite of all the problems of the Union state, Belarusians and Russians work together.
ERB: You named a possible successor to the post of Syarhey Sidorski in your article “Lukashenka shuffles staff”. According to you, it can be the current Minister of Internal Affaires Uladzimir Navumau. Is it true?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: I don’t think so. It can be done only by the President, it is his own decision. It will not necessarily be Navumau. But it is one of the most logical opinions. Maybe Lukashenka will reads the article in “Kommersant” today and decide not to appoint Navumau. It is difficult to say.
ERB: What do you think will become of the situation in Belarus in connection with the possible dismissal of Sidorski and the possible arrest of Suharenka and his deputy?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: To tell you the truth, I did not know there was information about the arrest of Suharenka. I have got to know it from you. It is difficult for me to assess this fact.
ERB: But if you assess the possible dismissal of Sidorski and the real dismissal of Suharenka, what do you think will happen in Belarus?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: The situation will remain stable (smiles). Very few things depend on the Belarusian Prime Minister. He has never been influential. There will be no dramatic changes, it is only a way for Lukashenka to show that he is a kind of reformer, a just and honest tsar.
ERB: Do you think Lukashenka will remain such a tsar for a long time?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: At the moment nothing indicates that it may end soon.
Photo by — http://www.kommersant.ru
ERB: What is going on in Belarus? Will Prime Minister Sidorski be dismissed because of the gas or oil conflict? Is there an internal crisis coming soon in Belarus?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: It seems that all the factors have been combined here. Furthermore, Sidorki has already spent too much time in this position. As we have witnessed, Lukashenka does not let people stay in their posts for a term that is longer that the one known only to him. It is difficult to understand and define it. Moreover, there are problems in the relations between Russia and Belarus. It can be seen after a failure in the negotiations of the Belarusian delegation and “Gazprom” last week. Moreover, according to the Ministry of Statistics, Belarusian economic activities are declining. Someone should be made responsible for it. Lukashenka will find such a person.
ERB: Why do you think the information about such important Belarusian issues appears in Russian mass media?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: It is hard to say… Maybe Belarusian colleagues are not that interested in what is happening around them. As far as you understand, I cannot reveal my source but if such things are happening… If you think that it was some “leak” of information it is wrong. I was informed about it by a Belarusian source.
ERB: How high is the rank of the source?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: High enough! I don’t even want to tell you the field of the source’s activities, you should understand why.
ERB: Do you think Moscow influences Belarusian processes?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: Maybe it does, but the influence is indirect, as usual. They even like to say, “everything is connected, all our structures act together”… It can be easily understood because Sidorski’s government organizes negotiations with Moscow, not with Kiev! There must be some ways of influence. In spite of all the problems of the Union state, Belarusians and Russians work together.
ERB: You named a possible successor to the post of Syarhey Sidorski in your article “Lukashenka shuffles staff”. According to you, it can be the current Minister of Internal Affaires Uladzimir Navumau. Is it true?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: I don’t think so. It can be done only by the President, it is his own decision. It will not necessarily be Navumau. But it is one of the most logical opinions. Maybe Lukashenka will reads the article in “Kommersant” today and decide not to appoint Navumau. It is difficult to say.
ERB: What do you think will become of the situation in Belarus in connection with the possible dismissal of Sidorski and the possible arrest of Suharenka and his deputy?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: To tell you the truth, I did not know there was information about the arrest of Suharenka. I have got to know it from you. It is difficult for me to assess this fact.
ERB: But if you assess the possible dismissal of Sidorski and the real dismissal of Suharenka, what do you think will happen in Belarus?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: The situation will remain stable (smiles). Very few things depend on the Belarusian Prime Minister. He has never been influential. There will be no dramatic changes, it is only a way for Lukashenka to show that he is a kind of reformer, a just and honest tsar.
ERB: Do you think Lukashenka will remain such a tsar for a long time?
Uladzіmіr Salaueu: At the moment nothing indicates that it may end soon.
Photo by — http://www.kommersant.ru
