Lukashenka: Kremlin gives us hard time, while Europe appreciates us :: Charter'97 :: News

Alyaksandr Lukashenka believes that official Moscow is not interested in forming a union with Minsk. “The truth is that we cannot run rampantly towards Moscow any more, as Moscow does not want that, Russian leadership does not want that,” A. Lukashenka said in Minsk at a meeting with the leader of the Communist party of Russia Gennady Zyuganov. As said by Lukashenka, today a pressure is put on Belarus following directions of the Kremlin. “They are starting to strangle, give hard time to Belarus; they are simply deriding us. You see what is going on in mass media now. But they are doing that because they had been told by the Kremlin, I know hat for sure,” he underlined.

As an example Alyaksandr Lukashenka reminded the situation when on the eve of his possible visit to Moscow an office of one of news agencies was sealed in order to thwart his press conference, BelTA informs.

“This [shows] Russian democracy, and the behaviour of the Russian leadership,” Lukashenka summarized.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is indignant how Russian media are treating his statements in an interview to Western journalists, Interfax informs.

“I would like to overlook it. But this carrion is stinking from Moscow to Minsk,” A. Lukashenka said. In particular, he noted that Russian media charge him with using the conflict with Russia to normalize relations with the West. “I am charged that Lukashenka, blackmailing and using the conflict with Russia, has turned towards the West. I know very well how I am accepted in the West, and I know well what the West wants from us,” A. Lukashenka said.

The Belarusian ruler is convinced that considering the recent events Europe has taken a new view of Belarus, BelTA informs.

“We admit that the multi-vector policy declared by us is in fact realized as a one-vector [policy]. It is very important for us to mend relations with the West. And the conflict [with Russia] is not the motive for that and not the ground. Europe has simply realized that it depends on Belarus in energy supplies as well. Europe has taken a new view of Belarus, a new situation has resulted,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.

As said by him, from the side of Russia “stones were thrown at Belarus even in the times of the first Russian president”. “But we could find an agreement. And now, under the recent leadership of Russia, a massive attack against Belarus has been carried out against Belarus for some years,” the president said.

He noted: “Is there a country that could endure doubling of prices for two times?” Besides, oil price for us was increased to the level when even our modern refineries lose $90 per each ton of oil,” A. Lukashenka said.

To his mind, Belarus shouldn’t depend on just one country, Russia.

“The truth is that for different reasons we have made a mistake in a practical realization of our correct foreign policy. We were flying on one wing. We were always in one boat with Russia to please it. We have never yielded to tempting us to the other side. If we conducted pro-Western policies, NATO troops would have been based here long before. They would be here earlier than in a different country. We always were by Russia’s side. But Russia was always throwing stones at us,” Lukashenka has underlined today at the meeting with the leader of the Communist party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov.

“But when the noose has been tightened around our neck, nobody would bear it. We should diversify our relations,” he added.