MINSK, July 28 (RIA Novosti) - Statements made by newly-appointed Russian Ambassador in Belarus Dmitry Ayatskov at a news conference on July 19 emphasizing the separateness of Belarus and Russia and the hard-line politics of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko have rocked Belarusian authorities.
"Russian TV channels highlighted an interview with Ayatskov, which quite surprised us. His allegations do not correspond to the warm and friendly ways the relations between our countries are developing," a Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
Commenting on the plans to create a union state of Russia and Belarus on July 19, Dmitry Ayatskov said: "It is hard to break Lukashenko, he is firmly planted on his feet. He needs to get over himself to understand one main thing: Russia is Russia and Belarus is Belarus... And he should not put on airs and think someone has to run errands for him because he has worked there for a long time."
The spokesman called the remarks unprecedented in recent bilateral relations.
"I don't remember anyone speaking like this before the delivery presentation of credentials. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry is studying the situation and we will obtain the whole record of the interview soon," the ministry's press service said.
While speaking at a consultation on domestic and foreign policy affairs Tuesday, President Lukashenko said, "You must have heard the speech of the future or possibly not-future Russian Ambassador in Belarus Dmitry Ayatskov and his bizarre statements. We are studying them. It is not yet clear whether that was a media interpretation or exactly what he said. Nevertheless, there is no smoke without fire."
Ayatskov was expected to arrive in Minsk tonight, however the Russian Embassy in Belarus said yesterday that his visit to Minsk had been indefinitely suspended.
