RUSSIA: PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO OF BELARUS VISIT

Описание: (22 May 1997) Russian/Nat

Presidents Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Boris Yeltsin of Russia worked Thursday on the final details of a union treaty.

On Friday, the two presidents were scheduled to sign the agreement that Lukashenko said would simply be an official recognition of a situation already existing between the two former Soviet states.

Russia and Belarus signed a treaty of union last month, calling for economic political and military cooperation but falling short of creating a single state.

The two leaders are likely to sign a more detailed agreement when they meet on Friday.

Russian Liberals question Lukashenko's motives for tightening relations with Russia believing that he wishes to make a bid to become leader of Russia.

Russia, though, has turned down Lukashenko's proposals for a single state with a single president.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
In brief why is Lukashenko here today? I'm here to legalise what has actually happened a long time ago. As a matter of fact we have moved far ahead of the provisions of the charter and the agreement. So this meeting is nothing extraordinary
SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Lukashenko, President, Belorussia

Although the charter to be signed on Friday by Yeltsin and Lukashenko has been described as a hedge against NATO expansion into Eastern Europe, the treaty is not expected to further unite the countries militarily.

Nor, apparently, will it create a single governmental, political or legal system.

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