Belarus leader’s “game of thrones” against Armenia ineffective

October 25, 2013 - 17:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Belarus President’s strange statements may take some getting used to, with Alexander Lukashenko’s remarks being more in the vein of what Russian leader Vladimir Putin could say.

A while ago, Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev gave Lukashenko $200 million for gas payments. Seems like Lukashenko decided it’s time to pay his dues by speaking against Armenia.

As Lukashenko recently told CIS media leaders, Azerbaijan’s opinion needs to be considered in admitting Armenia to the Russia-led Customs Union. “Armenia has an unresolved territorial issue with Azerbaijan, so we have to consider the latter’s opinion,” he said.

Lukashenko must be confusing things: first, it’s Russia, not Azerbaijan who decides the CU accession issues; second, the CU is not NATO which does not admit countries with unresolved conflicts. And finally: trying to play the first violin in all of the CIS organizations may turn out badly for Belarus.

Lukashenko’s long-term presidency seems to be affecting his sense of reality. After all, his policy of pressuring Moscow and trying to gain leadership in CSTO and CU to demonstrate his irreplaceability may fall through. However, Belarus may prove to be not-so-irreplaceable: it’s even possible for Armenia to take its place in the CU hierarchy, being of more strategic importance to Moscow in the latter’s attempt to reaffirm its presence in the Caucasus and Near East.

Lukashenko might have wanted to make some eccentric statement at a summit of CIS leaders in Moscow, but it’s unlikely he will. The summit is headed by Putin who cannot stand any statements aimed to undermine his leadership in the CIS.

And once again: it’s not Baku’s business to decide on Armenia-related issues. Azerbaijan had better take care of its rigged elections and “caviar diplomacy” everyone is sick and tired of.