Kyrgyzstan studies possibility of joining the Customs UNI0N of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, "Kazakhstan Today" agency reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan.
Israel's foreign minister on Thursday strongly cautioned Belarus against developing relations with Iran. Avigdor Lieberman said that Iran poses a major threat to stability in the entire Middle East. He told reporters that Israel expects Belarusian officials to take its concerns into account and promised to intensify ties with the ex-Soviet nation.
Russia has inflicted a potentially-damaging blow on its neighbour Belarus, witholding a 700 million euro loan and predicting the collapse of the economy by the end of the year. Moscow s growing reluctance to finance its one-time Soviet ally follows President Alexander Lukashenko s flirtation with the West through the EU s new Eastern Partnership scheme.
Belarus is anxious that a European UNI0N initiative to strengthen ties with six ex-Soviet states should not turn into a contest between Russia and the EU for "spheres of influence" in eastern Europe, according to Sergei Martynov, Belarus's foreign minister.
Administration of the Belarusian Popular Front Party received a letter from the housing and utility body demanding to vacate the headquarters in Minsk.
