Lukashenka Ready to Use a Chance to Mend Relations with Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

“We are to use any chance to mend relations with the West now. Why should we be railing at each other?” Alyaksandr Lukashenka told in ain interview to the editor-in-chief of Russian ultra-nationalist newspaper "Zavtra" (Tomorrow) Alexander Prokhanov. The conversation has been recorded in Minsk in February and was aired at Ekho Moskvy radio. “We have chosen a correct strategy of foreign policy, a multi-vector one. We are in the center of Europe, and we should live in peace with all neighbours,” Lukashenka said.

About relations with Russia

“There were such talks [among Russians] that we shall never get away from you anywhere. They could negotiate with Kazakhstan, as they could go somewhere. And everything has been decided with us. Your Prikhodko and others. Everything had been decided. I often said: Vladimir Vladimirovich, we can disappear. You should carry out an honest policy towards Belarusian state and people,” Lukashenka stated in an interview to the “Zavtra”.

“Imagine what was happening before the New Year, and on the New Year, and after the New Year. We knew concrete oil ships which could debark in the Baltic states, and oil would be delivered to our refineries. But even in this situation I called Putin and said; let them perform what we have agreed upon immediately. And it was extremely disadvantageous for us. And where you would be now if I submitted to terms proposed to me? I am fed up with that. I feel absolutely done in. For 15 years, or even for 20 years maybe, all we have is this struggle, and struggle again. I think everybody should understand that one is not doing it for oneself. Does a person need so much money, what for your officials need billions of dollars? Well, one hundred million is enough for oneself and two more generations, if you are going to simply live a normal life,” A. Lukashenka said.
raise a yell,
“Look what hysteria was taking place during this conflict. And it continues. But for you it could be ended by a second tap’s shut off. The same yell would be raised. And we would be in the West already. After all this we would be accepted by the West. I am saying that I all I needed was to turn off the tap… But I haven’t done that,” the Belarusian leader underlined.

To Prokhanov’s observation that “there are still chances for the alliance”, A. Lukashenka stated: “It all depends on Russian leadership. But they do not need that. I even doubt whether we need our Belarus as a part of Russia, as they want it. They are simply offering us this “carcass”, knowing that I`m not prepared to go there”.

Belarusians do not want to unite with Russia

Only one third of Belarusian citizens are supporting the idea of the union with Russia now, Alyaksandr Lukashenka declared. As said by Lukashenka, the reason for such a slump in the “union state” interest is the policy of Russian government which had put a noose around Belarus’ neck.

The Belarusian leader says he “has no idea what to do with that”. “What kind of union we are speaking about when a factory, a collective farm, an owner of private business in Russia has privileged conditions, getting gas three times cheaper than economic entities in Belarus,” Lukashenka noted. “Who needs such a union when we are oppressed this way?”

As said by Lukashenka, everything depends on Russian leadership today, “but it seems to need nothing,” he underlined. “However sooner or later the Russian people are to stand up from their knees and make the government carry out the right policy”.