Expert: Pope's visit to Belarus could be useful to Lukashenka
Pope's state secretary Torciose Bertone has begun his five-day visit to Belarus.What does this visit mean and will official Minsk invite Pope Benedict XVI to Belarus? We have asked commentator Roman Yakovlevski to share his views.
Yakovlevski says that Torciose Bertone's visit in Minsk is a very important event which can be described as an expression of a certain balance between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches by the Belarusian authorities. He believes that Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Belarus could be on agenda.
Yakovlevski: "I wouldn't rule out this possibility completely".
In his opinion, Pope's visit would be useful to Lukashenka.
"Talking about the image of the regime, etc., it would be useful to the regime of Lukashenka".
Roman Yakovlevski reminds that Valery Tsepkalo, a former aide to Alexander Luakshenka, once developed a plan which envisaged a meeting between the Moscow and Roman Pope to take place in Belarus. If that plan was realized, Lukashenka would act as a moderator. Presently, the Kremlin is confident that Pope's visit to Belarus is not possible.
Yakovlevski says that Torciose Bertone's visit in Minsk is a very important event which can be described as an expression of a certain balance between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches by the Belarusian authorities. He believes that Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Belarus could be on agenda.
Yakovlevski: "I wouldn't rule out this possibility completely".
In his opinion, Pope's visit would be useful to Lukashenka.
"Talking about the image of the regime, etc., it would be useful to the regime of Lukashenka".
Roman Yakovlevski reminds that Valery Tsepkalo, a former aide to Alexander Luakshenka, once developed a plan which envisaged a meeting between the Moscow and Roman Pope to take place in Belarus. If that plan was realized, Lukashenka would act as a moderator. Presently, the Kremlin is confident that Pope's visit to Belarus is not possible.
