US embassy cable - 05MINSK1052

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ECON, BO 
SUBJECT: Lukashenko Continues His Slander Campaign 
 
1. Summary:  President Lukashenko continues to slander 
the U.S. and the Belarusian opposition via the state- 
controlled media on a daily basis.  In recent speeches 
he has accused the U.S. and the West of trying to 
destabilize Belarus using the country's ethnic Poles as 
pawns and training revolutionaries along the border in 
pro-American countries.  Lukashenko opined that the 
Belarusian opposition would fail in the upcoming 
elections and soon disappear altogether.  He noted 
foreign broadcasts to Belarus do not worry him, but the 
KGB will monitor them just in case.  Lukashenko stressed 
he would not spend excessive money on an election 
campaign and disapproved of portraying himself in a 
positive light.  He has improved the country, not 
plundered it, and therefore does not fear losing his 
position.  End Summary. 
 
The U.S. Blame Game 
------------------- 
 
2. At a July 26 government conference, President 
Lukashenko accused the West, particularly the United 
States, of trying to destabilize Belarus.  Lukashenko 
explained how the U.S. plans to maintain a unipolar 
world by controlling Russia's exports of natural 
resources.  In order to do this, the U.S. must gain 
control of Belarus, much like it has done with Ukraine 
and the Baltics.  Once Belarus has fallen, the U.S. 
would control all natural resource routes between Russia 
and Europe and essentially maintain its superpower 
status. 
 
3. According to the president, the U.S. and its Western 
friends have set up surveillance bases in Lithuania, 
Poland, and Ukraine that are training revolutionary 
groups to lead an uprising in Belarus.  Lukashenko 
announced that his government is well aware of these 
plans and will use all constitutional means available to 
prevent a revolution. [Note: A law adopted in November 
2004 gives Lukashenko the legitimacy to authorize police 
and troops to open fire on people (i.e. protestors) when 
needed.] 
 
4. Lukashenko opined that no Western European country is 
happy with U.S. politics.  Similar to Latvia and 
Ukraine, Poland has adopted pro-American politics and 
therefore, has become "a bone in the throat" for the 
rest of Europe.  Washington and Warsaw are using the 
ethnic Poles in Belarus as "puppets" to bring 
instability to Belarus.  However, Lukashenko stressed he 
would not allow Belarusian citizens to be "cannon 
fodder" for the U.S. 
 
Opposition's End in Sight 
------------------------- 
 
5. On August 15, Lukashenko claimed the opposition 
should be barred from power because they hate people. 
In his words, the opposition will lose the 2006 
election, realize their failures, and soon afterwards 
disappear.  Half of them have already left the country 
to live in "villas" in the Czech Republic, Baltics, 
Poland, and Germany but are battling with their 
"masters" over USD 40 million allocated to launch radio 
broadcasts to Belarus.  The opposition is worried that 
it will not get its money. 
 
Radio Broadcasting Waste of Money 
--------------------------------- 
 
6. Lukashenko claimed he is not against foreign radio 
broadcasts to Belarus and does not have time to worry 
about them; this is the secret service's job.  He 
publicly announced that the BKGB would monitor the radio 
broadcasts and inform the president if there are any 
emergencies.  According to Lukashenko, Lithuania, Poland 
and Ukraine use their negative information and news 
coverage on Belarus to distract citizens from their own 
domestic problems.  The President commented that, 
fortunately, Belarusian journalists are winning the 
information war, and therefore foreign radio broadcasts 
represent a pointless waste of resources. 
 
No Excessive Campaigning 
------------------------ 
 
7. The president stated that he does not "shiver" at the 
thought that he may lose power because people who 
constantly fear for their jobs cannot work well.  After 
all, the people support him for his good deeds and the 
fact that he has not plundered the country.  Lukashenko 
 
MINSK 00001052  002 OF 002 
 
 
claimed his lack of fear is his biggest advantage. 
 
Furthermore, he claimed he would not spend a lot of 
money on an excessive PR and pre-election campaign 
because he is not the type of president to "dust" 
people's eyes and portray himself in a positive light. 
The people know who Lukashenko is because his policies 
have remained consistent over the years. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. Lukashenko's slanderous statements against the West 
and the U.S. in particular are increasing in frequency 
and vitriol as the 2006 presidential election 
approaches.  Though ludicrous, his messages' constant 
repetition in the state-controlled media has a 
significant impact on the population thinking. 
 
PHLIPOT