Cost of giving shelter to Bakiyev: No preferences from Russia

• 21.04.2010, 22:22

President of Russia explained in layman terms what giving asylum to the Kyrgyzstan’s dictator means for the Belarusian authorities.

Russia is ready to give preferences, including ones in gas area, to the countries proving in practice they are our partners, but not to those which just declare this, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said at a press conference in Kharkiv (Ukraine).

Medvedev and his Ukrainian colleague Viktor Yanukovich arranged on a $100 discount on gas if the price was higher than $330 thousand cubic metres, or 30 percent if the price was lower than that.

Medvedev answered a question if Belarus could count on a similar discount on gas.

“This (the arrangement reached by Moscow and Kyiv) is a real partner step of Russia and Ukraine. Such actions show real intentions of neighbours, friends, relatives, partner countries. Ukraine, as well as the Russian Federation, has made this step. Speaking about other countries, we need to see their actions and the reached results,” BelaPAN quotes Medvedev with reference to RIA Novosti.

“Intentions should be compared with the actions done. Discussion of different discounts proposes a question: for what and for the sake of what. This should be partnership,” the Russian president said.

He stressed that words should be followed by actions.

“Real partnership is one thing, but declaration of intentions is another thing. One things is to agreed on serious work, make advances to each other, render aid to each other, another thing is to take a decision on granting residence for people, who have lost job. These are different matters. Make a conclusion,” the Russian leader said.

As it was earlier informed, Alyaksandr Lukashenka supported Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who left Kyrgyzstan after the opposition had come to power, and agreed to receive him in Belarus. Bakiyev still considers himself the president of Kazakhstan. He stays in Minsk, while the interim government is going to try him.