Quotable notes (01/16/00)

Quotable notes

"Under your leadership, Russia entered the road of democratic development, beginning the process of deep reforms, which, despite inevitable difficulties, will bring - I am convinced of this - well-being and prosperity to Russia and its peoples ... We, the Poles, are especially grateful to you for your commitment to overcoming the difficult legacy of Polish-Russian history, for revealing the painful truth of the Katyn tragedy to the world, [which] created a foundation for the normalization of relations between our countries and opened the road to rapprochement and reconciliation of the peoples of Poland and Russia."

- Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski in a December 31, 1999, letter to Boris Yeltsin upon his resignation as president of Russia, as cited by RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report.

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The passing of presidential powers from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin indicates "an offensive of Russian fascism. ... Russia has been captured by the KGB and Yeltsin has ceased to control the situation. ... As soon as Putin becomes president, an occupation of Belarus will take place. While earlier Yeltsin played integration games with [Belarusian President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka, now the opinion of [Lukashenka] will be of no importance for Russia. ... Russia has obtained its own Lukashenka."

- Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Zyanon Paznyak in comments reported by the January 4 edition of RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report.

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"Of all Russia's recent premiers, Putin - except for, maybe, Sergei Kirienko - is the most right-wing one. And the right-wingers, as is known, like and know how to count money. Therefore, I will not be surprised if Belarus is presented [by Putin] with stiff bills to be paid."

- Alyaksandr Sasnou, head of the National Executive Committee (Belarus's Shadow Cabinet), as cited by the January 4 edition of RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report.

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