Quotable notes

"We have done a great deed, we have created a precedent, a tangible precedent of the unification of Slavic nations - Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Close by, we have Moldova where normal leadership has come to power. If we fail to support it, this Moldovan leadership will perish. We are obliged - first of all, Russia - to support it in order to make people realize that normal leadership came to power. One must not be ashamed or afraid that communists came to power. Well, it does not matter that they are communists. All of us were communists. Normal, sympathetic people came [to power]. Ukraine is today drifting in our direction. Therefore, when we resolve [our problems in the Russia-Belarus Union], we will approach the resolution of yet another one, a very important one - we will pull up to our union those states that we want to see here. I think Kazakhstan, too, will be here."

- President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russia-Belarus Union in Hrodna on June 5, as quoted by Belarusian Television and cited by RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 15, 2001, No. 28, Vol. LXIX

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