Belarus aims to become bridge between Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is going on a visit to Europe for the first time in many years. He will travel to Rome to have a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Lukashenko has been trying to develop closer ties with the European Union lately, which raises concerns with the Russian administration. The Belarussian leader tries to become a mediator between Orthodoxy and Catholicism to make his country become a bridge between Russia and the European Union.

 

Alexander Lukashenko embarks of an official visit to Europe for the first time in 14 years. He will meet the Pope on April 27 in The Vatican. Lukashenko will also attend official dinner that Silvio Berlusconi will give in his honor.

President Loekasjenko bezoekt Paus

President Loekasjenko van Wit-Rusland, is op bezoek geweest bij de paus.

Audiëntie

Paus Benedictus XVI ontving Loekasjenko in particuliere audiëntie. Het Vaticaan maakte niet bekend waarover de twee hebben gesproken.

Grof

Een woordvoerder van het Vaticaan zei over het omstreden karakter van de ontmoeting dat het ‘grof’ zou zijn de president van een land ‘waarmee wij diplomatieke betrekkingen onderhouden’, niet te ontvangen. Hij verzekerde dat dat niet betekent dat Benedictus het ‘op alle punten’ met de Wit-Russische president eens is.

Russia plans to deliver advanced air defense missiles to Belarus

 

Russia will supply advanced S-400 air defense systems to Belarus under a recent agreement to create an integrated air defense network, a senior Air Force official said on Thursday.

“One of the provisions of the agreement is to upgrade the network. It must be equipped with the most advanced weaponry,” first deputy Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Vadim Volkovitsky said.

The S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles), twice the range of the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot, and 2 1/2 times that of the S-300PMU-2.