Media reports have suggested Belarus could recognize the regions in exchange for a loan and discounted energy prices. Belarus has asked Russia for 100 billion rubles ($2.7 billion), in addition to an agreed $2 billion stabilization loan, and to switch to payment in rubles in bilateral trade.
Russia recognized the rebel republics on August 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war that began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control. Both the U.S. and Europe condemned Russia's move.
"We would not tolerate pressure either from Europe or Russia in this issue," Alexander Lukashenko said in a Euronews interview published late on Thursday. "There is a parliament, it will discuss the issue and make a proposal. This is not linked to the loan."
A Belarusian lawmaker said earlier Abkhazia and South Ossetia had approached Minsk with recognition requests. Lukashenko earlier said he would back parliament if it voted to recognize the republics. Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia after armed conflicts in the early 1990s.
Belarus's long-serving leader, dubbed by Washington "Europe's last dictator," has moved to improve ties with the EU, which criticized his human rights and democratic records. In October, the EU suspended for six months travel restrictions and other sanctions against Belarus's leadership, including Lukashenko.
"There is no doubt, we are interested in [strong] relations with the European Union," Lukashenko told Euronews.
He said Belarus's trade with the EU in January-November 2008 reached $22 billion and highlighted other spheres of mutual interest such as energy transit, drug trafficking, and illegal migrants. The country's commodity turnover with Russia in the period was $35 billion.
