BELARUS…

Belarusans have finally had an opportunity to read the draft Treaty of Union with Russia, published October 8. On October 17, 20,000 people demonstrated in Minsk against the treaty, against union with Russia, and for independence and free elections. Security forces dispersed the crowd, which carried forbidden Belarusan national flags. The draft treaty calls for unification by the end of 1999. Belarusan dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka defended the draft, saying it is necessary to “rush the unification… because the older generations are leaving us, and the younger ones are not committed to the idea.”