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United Civic Party offers government to set up joint crisis think tank

The United Civic Party (UCP) offers the government to set up a joint think tank for devising solutions to the aftermath of the global economic crisis, Deputy Chairman Yaraslaw Ramanchuk told reporters in Minsk on April 21.

He described the intellectual potential of the government as "very small."

"Despite a multitude of adopted decrees, they have failed to solve economic problems. Officials are more concerned about keeping their jobs rather than about economic development," the economist said.

UCP leader Anatol Lyabedzka noted that Russia was ending its political support for Mr. Lukashenka. "It becomes one of [Lukashenka's foreign policy] fronts. The same can be said about the Bakiyev factor. I believe Bakiyev will create new problems for the government as there is a difficult situation and Minsk and Bishkek are already facing strained relations," he said.

Mr. Lyabedzka questioned the Belarusian leader's remarks signaling his readiness "to send Belarusian units for quelling riots on the territory of some country or another."

The Belarusian government's words and actions do not agree often, which is evidence that "power is in the hands of people who are not controlled by either the constitution or the legislature," Mr. Lyabedzka said.// BelaPAN.