Belarus leader tells Trump adviser he wants to reset ties with the U.S.

Record ID: 1429626

  • Title: Belarus leader tells Trump adviser he wants to reset ties with the U.S.
  • Date: 29th August 2019
  • Summary: MINSK, BELARUS (AUGUST 29, 2019) (REUTERS) CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, JOHN BOLTON, SAYING: "To have a better bilateral relationship that takes these concerns into account, we have to resolve satisfactorily, the human rights, non-proliferation and other issues, so I wanted to have a chance to have that discussion with the president and, as I said, he was willing to provide it. It wasn't that we solved any of the issues, but if you don't have these sorts of conversations, it's very hard to make progress, so we'll see what happens from now." MEDIA BOLTON THANKING MEDIA AND PREPARING TO LEAVE
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2019 20:04
  • Keywords: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko U.S. national security adviser John Bolton Minsk talks reset ties
  • Location: MINSK, BELARUS
  • City: MINSK, BELARUS
  • Country: Belarus
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002AU9W1FR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in talks in Minsk on Thursday (August 29) that he wanted to reset ties with Washington.
    Bolton is the most senior U.S. official in years to travel to Belarus and his trip may irk Moscow, which traditionally sees the former Soviet republic as its sphere of influence.
    Lukashenko has been at odds with the West for years over Belarus' human rights record and crackdown on political dissent. He has described himself as the "last dictator in Europe."
    Ahead of the trip, Bolton told reporters in Moldova on Thursday that he planned to warn Lukashenko of the security threat posed to Belarus by Russia.
    Belarus and Russia have formally been in a largely symbolic union state since the 1990s, but have said they are currently holding talks to expand that integration, a process that has fuelled concern about a quiet annexation by Moscow.
    Russia views Belarus as a buffer between its western border and Europe as ties with the West have sunk to post-Cold War lows, but it denies there is anything untoward with its union state project and says Belarus is a close and valued ally.
    (Production: Vladimir Kostin, Maria Stromova)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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