[Marxism] Sixty Years After Defeat Of Nazism, Belarus Warns Of NATO Aggression

["David Quarter" <davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:                   Rick Rozoff
Subject:                Sixty Years After Defeat Of Nazism, Belarus Warns Of 
NATO Aggression


1) President Of Belarus Condemns NATO's Absorption Of
Baltic Neighbors, Warns Of Willingness To Fight Off
'Any Aggressor'
2) Worst Per Capita Victim Of World War Two, Belarus
Marks 60th Anniversary Of End Of Nazi Occupation
3) "Always On The Forefront Of The Fight Against
Fascism': Presidents Of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine
Gather To Commemorate 60th Anniversary Of Liberation
Of Belarus From Nazism
4) Russian President Arrives In Belarus To Visit
Monuments, Village Of Khatyn



1)
http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040703004233.j22tz9ma.html

Agence France-Presse
July 2, 2004

Belarus leader slams NATO inclusion of Baltic
neighbors


MINSK - Belarus's authoritarian [sic] President
Alexander Lukashenko late Friday attacked NATO's
inclusion of its neighbors Latvia and Lithuania and
warned of Belarus's readiness to fight off any
aggressor.

"It is utterly unacceptable that military
infrastructure is being set up now on their territory,
and their intelligence is already fully at work. If
all this is not against us, who is it they are up
against?" Lukashenko demanded.

Speaking to veterans during celebrations of the 60th
anniversary of Belarus's liberation from Nazi troops,
Lukashenko voiced hope that no one "will accuse me of
not having warned our people of what is happening over
the border."

"We, heirs of the Soviet people's great deeds, cannot
be staying low and looking as if all is calm and
quiet," Lukashenko said, assuring that "at need,
Belarusian troops will be able to harm any aggressor
irreparably."

With its neighbors Poland, Latvia and Lithuania
gaining NATO membership, Belarus - widely regarded as
Europe's last pariah state on account of its poor
human rights record - is seeing its common borders
with the Western alliance grow ever longer.

In recompense, Minsk sought to strengthen ties with
Moscow, which had long opposed NATO's expansion,
particularly into the former Soviet space.
------------------------------------------------------
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/07/278304f0-2269-45c1-ab2f-ff58b39a7036.html


Associated Press
July 2, 2004

Belarus Marks Anniversary Of End Of Nazi Occupation


-More than one-fourth of Belarus's population was
killed in World War II, and some 185 villages were
destroyed.


MINSK - The presidents of Russia and Ukraine arrived
in Belarus today for the commemoration of the 60th
anniversary of the end of the Nazi occupation of
then-Soviet Belarus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian
President Leonid Kuchma joined Belarus's President
Alyaksandr Lukashenka to participate in a series of
late-night events, including a wreath-laying ceremony
to be followed by a late dinner with World War II
veterans.

More than one-fourth of Belarus's population was
killed in World War II, and some 185 villages were
destroyed.

Located between Russia and Poland, Belarus was a key
battleground during the German invasion of the Soviet
Union in 1941 and the German retreat three years
later.

Putin, Kuchma, and Lukashenka planned to visit Katyn,
a giant memorial complex located 60 kilometers east of
Minsk.
-----------------------------------------------------
3)
http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Bela&pg=0&id=5736893&req=

Interfax
July 2, 2004

Lukashenko, Putin, Kuchma attend Belarus liberation
ceremony


Minsk - The Belarussian, Russian, and Ukrainian
presidents visited the Khatyn memorial complex in
Belarus to attend celebrations of the 60th anniversary
of Belarus's liberation from Nazi Germany.

The complex was unveiled on July 5, 1969 in memory of
the residents of the village of Khatyn and other
Belarussian villages scorched and destroyed by Nazi
forces in 1941-1944.

Khatyn was burned down together with all of its 149
residents, including 75 children, on March 22, 1943.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the ceremony
that Khatyn is "the only place where a memorial
reminds one of the senselessness of war, of the
unbelievable cruelty, and of the unmatched heroism and
courage of our people."

Belarus "was always on the forefront of the fight
against Fascism," Putin said. "It fought in the
interests of the entire country, and all the peoples
of our country took part in liberating Belarus."
------------------------------------------------------
4)
http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Bela&pg=0&id=5736814&req=

Interfax
July 2, 2004


Putin arrives in Minsk

Minsk - President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Minsk
to attend celebrations of the 60th anniversary of
Belarus' liberation of Nazi troops.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko greeted
Putin upon his arrival, Interfax reported.

The two presidents are expected to visit a complex of
monuments commemorating the World War II victory and
meet with WWII veterans. Putin will also visit Khatyn,
a village whose entire population was killed by Nazi
troops.

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who arrived in
Minsk thirty minutes earlier, joined the two
presidents in the airport.

A meeting between the three presidents began in the
airport.





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