OVERVIEW: Although rising energy input prices have increased pressure on his administration, the president, Alyaksandar Lukashenka, will retain control of the political scene. Belarus will continue to be isolated from the West in 2008-09, and the relationship with Russia will continue to be the main foreign policy priority. Rising gas import prices and strong import demand will widen the current-account deficit. Real GDP growth is expected to slow to below 5% by 2009.

Source: Belarus: Country outlook