Obama re-elected: no congratulation from Lukashenka?

Barack Obama has been re-elected President for the next 4 years. The U.S. policy regarding Belarus is unlikely to change, experts think.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich have already congratulated Barack Obama. The Belarusian leader is still silent. Pavel Lyohki, head of Alyaksandr Lukashenka's press service is taking his time. He has drawn Euroradio's attention to the fact that Lukashenka congratulated Obama on his election in 2008. However, the U.S. President did not congratulate Alyaksandr Lukashenka on his re-election in 2010.

Pavel Lyohki: “The head of the White House refrained from congratulations. And the principle of reciprocity is used in diplomacy. It means that the President's reaction should correspond to it".

You cannot say that Alyaksandr Lukashenka has completely ignored the presidential election in the USA. He explained to journalists why he did not vote early like Obama had done on November 6. Lukashenka also compared the United States to a bulldozer because of its inertness in the foreign policy.

The last President congratulated by Alyaksandr Lukashenka was Hugo Chavez, Venezuela. It happened a month ago - on October 8, BelTA reports.

 “I would like to dedicate my victory to you and to our Belarusian people," replied Chavez.

The last European President congratulated by Alyaksandr Lukashenka was François Hollande. He won the presidential election in France at the beginning of May.

“I am sure that a constructive dialogue and the activization of bilateral relations will promote the realization of the potential of Belarus-France relations and deepen cooperation in all the spheres for the good of our citizens,"  Lukashenka said.