Lithuanian President Grybauskaite believes that the victory of Alexander Lukashenko in the Belarusian presidential elections will limit Russia's influence on Minsk and maintain stability in the EU neighboring country. According to Reuters, with reference to the EU sources, it was stated by Grybauskaite at the meeting with the EU countries' ambassadors in Vilnius on November.
«The opposition is not serious and has no chance at any elections. Lukashenko would win, gaining 99% of the votes, but he’ll win with only 75% to please the EU,» a diplomat, present at the meeting, quoted the Lithuanian President’s words.
According to him, Grybauskaite also said that Lukashenko is a guarantor of political and economic stability of Belarus, as well as its independence, Korrespondent.net reports. She noted that Lukashenko’s victory would be preferable, despite the fact that democratic reforms and respect for human rights are rather utopian during his ruling.
It’s well-known, the parliament of Belarus set a date of the next presidential elections on December 19, 2010. Alexander Lukashenko, occupied the office for three terms, is going to run for the elections again.
Foreign ministers of Germany and Poland arrived in Minsk on November 2 to urge the Belarusian authorities to hold presidential elections in accordance with democratic standards. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that the election would be a test for democracy in Belarus.