WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush, in an interview broadcast Thursday, called Belarus "the last remaining dictatorship in Europe" and said the ex-Soviet state's elections next year must be free and fair.
"We'll work with you, countries in the neighborhood, the free countries of the world, to insist there be free elections, and make sure there's free elections," he said in an interview with Lithuanian State Television.
The interview, recorded on Wednesday, came as Bush prepared to leave Washington Friday bound for Latvia, the Netherlands, Moscow and Georgia, his second trip to Europe since his second term began in January.
Referring to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Bush declared: "This is the last remaining dictatorship in Europe."
"One of the roles that the United States can play is to speak clearly about the need for Belarus to be free, and to work with people to insist that Belarus be free, and when the elections come, make sure the elections are free, and have monitors and international observers," he said.
"As you know, that made a big difference in the Ukraine, for example," Bush said, adding: "I believe everybody wants to be free, and I believe if the world works together to achieve that, many people will be free."
Bush signed the Belarus Democracy Act last October, clearing the way for US financial aid to non-governmental groups mounting reform projects as well as radio and television broadcasts aimed at Belarussians.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, comes up for reelection next year but said in mid-April he intended to remain in power until 2010. He has also said he has no fears of a revolution similar to those which occurred in the former Soviet states of the Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.
He has been bitterly criticized in the West for the alleged systematic persecution of his political opponents.
05/05/2005 19:34 GMT