Last year, he unleashed the Government's displeasure on a Spanish restaurant that had the misfortune of being on his commuting route until it changed its menu to include Belarusian cuisine. Those are the trademarks of a leader who is accustomed to getting what he seeks. But Belarus will be hard pressed to keep giving. The socialist economy in Belarus put in place by President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko has revived many of the negative aspects of the old Soviet economy, like shortages, rationing and inflation. People lined up for a Christmas sale in a marketplace in Minsk on Friday to buy inexpensive pork.
Food rationing and long lines for goods are common in Belarus.
The New York Times 30Dec98 Wrong Partner for Russia Editorial Russia will make a grave mistake if it follows through on plans to reunite with the former Soviet republic of Belarus. The merger scheme announced last week by President Boris Yeltsin and his Belarussian counterpart, Aleksandr Lukashenko , may never come to pass. No formal agreement was signed and many of Mr. Yeltsin's declarations these days cannot be taken at face value. But if the merger does move ahead, it would burden an already depleted Russian economy with the severe economic problems facing Belarus. By taking on responsibility for refloating the Belarussian ruble and for feeding 10 million more people, Moscow would make it that much harder to pay off its own back wages and loans and to re-establish credibility with the International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions.