Lukashenka: I’m a bit tired :: Charter'97 :: News

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has denied speculations on the web that he is seriously ill. Such reports emerged after his long absence in TV programs. “I guess I am a bit tired, but you can come to my hockey training sessions and will see everything yourselves,” told the Belarusian leader to journalists on Wednesday.

Commenting on rumours, A. Lukashenka stated: “As it turns out, I had not simply a heart attack, but a heart attack and a stroke together,” Interfax informs.

Despite of the fact that he wasn’t seen on TV screens, the president noted that “he didn’t change his style of work in these conditions”.

Creation of Union State is retarded

“Creation of the union state has been slowed down today at all directions,” told the leader of the state in his interview on Wednesday.

A.Lukashenka believes that “the ball is on the Russian side now”. “Everything depends on them; if they have a serious wish to take part in construction of our union, based on decency, they are welcome. We are ready to continue this work even tomorrow, and we could solve accumulated problems in half a year or a year,” A. Lukashenka said.

At the same time, as said by him, “there is one hindrance, I mean logjams in our relations, customs, transit of trucks, sugar, confectionery products and others things. We should clear that out, and without that there is no point in meeting and talking about the union state,” the president told.

A.Lukashenka noted that trade agreement with Russia signed in Minsk “should clear out these hindrances, so that we could promote this process of union creation”. “As for Belarus, we have lifted all hurdles, and I think Russians would do the same,” A. Lukashenka said.

However, as said by him, “for now the Russian side does not show great desire to do something in Belarusian economy”. As an example he mentioned the situation with deliveries of Belarusian sugar to Russia, when Russia made Belarus limit deliveries. “There mustn’t be any quotas,” A. Lukashenka said, saying it contradicts principles of the customs office.

In this connection A. Lukashenka noted: “How could we defend Russian interests in this situation?” “And there are lots of other examples equivalent to sugar situation,” he said.

“Belarus is stronghold and base of Russia”

A. Lukashenka believes that as a result of a gas crisis in relations with Russia “we haven’t lost anything”. “We shouldn’t find apologies and say that it’s not our fault. You know whose fault it was,” the president said.

“When Americans told about stationing anti-ballistic missile systems in Europe, about the ruling of the US Congress concerning Ukraine and Georgia, what meaning does Belarus become to have for Russia? You are right, it’s a foothold and a base, which could be our trump card forever. Can Russia use it today?” Lukashenka asked. We have never blackmailed Russia with that, we haven’t and wouldn’t use this trump. We shall fulfil our commitments fully,” the Belarusian leader said.

He told that “in the near future we shall discuss these issues with Putin”. “We shouldn’t be engaged in procrastination and wait until we would be divided and exterminated like rabbits. We shall act decently and openly in respect of a Russian man and Russians,” Belarusian president said.

Nobody Invites Lukashenka to Russia

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has also refuted information that he had been invited to become a leader of a new Russian party. He finds that impossible and senseless. “It was a surprise for me that somebody had been calling me to Russia to become a leader of some party,” A. Lukashenka said to journalists.