Belarus rejects Putin 'union' plan
Putin wants Belarus to join Russian Federation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed dramatic changes to the union between his country and Belarus, which have been roundly rejected by his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
When they met at the Kremlin earlier this week, Mr Putin proposed either forming a union state - with Belarus very much a constituent part of the Russian Federation - or establishing a loose union like the EU.
Belarus had been hoping to cement the status quo, under which the two countries nominally form part of a joint and equal union, which many consider to be a meaningless fiction, given Moscow's overwhelming dominance.
Interviewed on Belarusian TV on his return to Minsk, Mr Lukashenko was categorical in his condemnation of the Russian proposal to make his country part of Russia.
"Categorical no"
"How will Belarusians respond? It is not difficult to predict. Categorical rejection, a categorical no. Why should this variant be discussed? It is unacceptable for Belarus."
The press in Belarus was quick to react to what is widely seen as a blow to Mr Lukashenko's ambitions.
Sovereignty is not for sale.
Sovetskaya Belorussiya The independent daily Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta describes the Putin proposal as "Moscow's plan to recover Belarusian territories".
"Initial reaction to the outcome of the Moscow visit can be described as close to shock."
Mr Lukashenko "must be in shock, too," the daily says.
It says that before the meeting, "Lukashenko cheerfully said that Belarus would go as far as Russia was willing to go. It is difficult to say whether the Belarusian president knew just how far Putin was prepared to go in the integrationist zeal".
"Sovereignty is not for sale," proclaims a front-page editorial in the pro-government Sovetskaya Belorussiya.
"President Lukashenko is adamant that Belarusian sovereignty is not negotiable. This position, of course, is supported by an absolute majority in this country."
"Belarus is a subject of international law, an independent state, one of the founders of the United Nations," the paper states.
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