Minsk (AFP)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday proposed "opening a new chapter" in relations with Washington, at the risk of strongly irritating Moscow, which considers its neighbor and ally as part of its sphere of influence.

Ironically ruler of this former Soviet republic since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has mastered the art of treading between Westerners, with whom mistrust remains, and Russia, with whom he has been discussing for years a unification of the two countries.

Receiving in Minsk for rare talks the adviser for the national security of the White House John Bolton in tour in the area, the president of Belarus said to want to turn this bad page and to open a new chapter.

He proposed to approach "with frankness" and "as friends" the question of relations between the two countries. "This will allow us to create a base for future relations," said Lukashenko, who said he had already "personally talked to" with "many American experts and specialists."

According to the US Embassy in Minsk, the purpose of the visit was to "discuss regional security and emphasize US support for the sovereignty and independence" of the country.

"History is moving forward, a lot of time has passed since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the geopolitical situation has changed, and it is changing as we speak," said John Bolton, according to statements by the service. press release of the Belarusian presidency.

- "Weak points" -

Relations between Belarus and the United States have been strained for years.

Washington has regularly accused Minsk of violating human rights and imposing sanctions on him. During the last re-election of Lukashenko in 2015, Washington said it was "disappointed" in judging the vote neither free nor fair.

In 2007, the United States had called Belarus "the last dictatorship in Europe". The following year, Minsk had invited the US ambassador to "leave the country" and recalled his own ambassador to Washington. Reduced to a minimum, their relationship had resumed in 2009

According to Russian expert Vladimir Jarikhine, a specialist in the former Soviet republics, Mr Lukashenko's stated desire to relaunch relations with Washington will not necessarily be followed up.

"A seasoned politician is trying to say what his negotiating partner wants to hear," he says. "Lukashenko will continue to act as before, he will be cunning, saying to everyone soft words, while continuing to keep his country in order and in order with Russian money."

Belarus is the largest debtor of Russia, with a debt of $ 7.52 billion at the end of 2018. The two countries are members of a union supposed to lead to a gradual "merger" between the two countries.

Mr Lukashenko has a habit of cleverly lobbying for concessions from Moscow or the European Union, which largely lifted its sanctions in 2015 after the release of political prisoners.

Visiting Russia in February, Lukashenko insisted on the "sovereignty" of his country against his counterpart Vladimir Putin, while advocating an improvement in relations between the two countries that also go through periods of regular tension.

The latest, the two countries have opposed a modification by Russia of its taxation in a manner unfavorable to Belarus, which accuses him of financial pressures to maintain its dominance. Moscow, for its part, believes it does not have to subsidize Minsk without compensation.

According to analysts, John Bolton's trip to the former USSR aims to search for "weak spots" on Russian borders.

US adviser on Wednesday held talks in Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, insisting on Ukraine's "territorial integrity" in the face of an armed conflict with pro-Russian separatists, supported by Moscow according to Kiev and Westerners .

On Thursday, Bolton traveled to Moldova where he met with pro-Russian President Igor Dodon and pro-European Prime Minister Maia Sandu.

© 2019 AFP