Belarus' Lukashenko: U.S., Europe hindering efforts to join WTO

Belarusian President &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/92/370/15790_Lukashenko.html' target=_blank>Alexander Lukashenko accused the United States and Europe of hindering his country's efforts to join the World Trade Organization, the authoritarian leader's latest criticism of the West.

After a meeting with Amina C. Mohamed, who chairs the WTO's governing general council, Lukashenko said talks with the trade-rules group were proceeding "not without difficulties."

"You know why and you know with which countries: I want to stress again that because of a policy of double standards, it is very hard to talk with western Europe and the United States," he said, adding that Belarus is "counting on support from the WTO leadership."