Lukashenka: “These are Unachievable but Resolvable Tasks” :: Charter'97 :: News

Alyaksandr Lukashenka started his annual address to the deputies of the “chamber of representatives” by a 7 minute delay. When he appeared in the Oval hall of the House of Government, he looked very tired and gloomy. He was reading his clichéd theses from a paper, but then he started to speak on the spur of the moment and said that he is ready to cooperate with Russia, Europe and the US, but in the way “advantageous” for him, threatened to cancel allowances, to switch off electricity for small villages and farms, to arrest a former construction minister Kurachkin and to build an atomic power station for sure.

Independence strengthening is a priority

To reinforce independence of the Belarusian state by all available means is a top priority today, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.

“It means to ensure a right to pursue our own home and foreign policy, to provide national security in all its integrity, from defense and informational to food security,” the Belarusian leader said. “That is why this address to the parliament is called “Independent Belarus is our worthy and safe house”.

Relations with Russia should be equal

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is convinced that it is necessary to keep relations of “allies” with the Russian Federation under the condition of preserving national interests of Belarus.

“Russia would like to continue construction of the “union state” as well. We are ready for any variant of cooperation offered by Russia, however our interests should be preserved,” A. Lukashenka said.

“Our union should be equitable, mutually beneficial and transparent. Partners’ relations are not a one-way street. Only an equitable union with Russia would be supported by our people,” the leader of the state is sure.

A. Lukashenka has noted that “oil and gas problems have made a strong blow” at relations of Russia and Belarus, “sowed doubts in our relations”. At the same time he underlined that “Russian people are no strangers to us”. “There is simply no alternative to normal relations with Russia, and nobody could doubt whether these relations should be maintained and developed,” A. Lukashenka said.

A. Lukashenka has underlined that it is to the interest of the Russian and Belarusian peoples “to move forward, to choose forms of cooperation”. “We should look for compromises and find understanding. There is no other way,” he said.

“People say I have flopped to the West”

Belarus is ready to become an equal partner of Europe, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said. “They say I have flopped over to the West. But it’s not “instead”, but “together with”, A. Lukashenka underlined. There are all prerequisites for that, in particular, a high level of cooperation with Western Europe. He also expressed gratitude to European counties which provide assistance to Belarus in overcoming consequences of Chernobyl catastrophe.

As Lukashenka reminded, Belarus had put a secure barrier on the way of drugs and human trafficking. “We are ready to discuss any topics, without avoiding discussion points,” A. Lukashenka said, underlining that Belarus doesn’t need “inspectors and teachers”. We are ready to be equal partner, a responsible partner,” he underlined, adding that common sense should prevail on the part of the EU and the US.

Burn wood if you have no money

Lukashenka insists on more active work on involving local and alternative fuel to the energy balance of the country.

“In the near future conditions should be created to make local fuel power facilities a natural part of Belarusian energy system,” the head of the state said.

A. Lukashenka has underlined that Belarus should use both foreign experience and its own scientific research, to use more actively local fuel types, to burn waste and wood fuel.

“We should cut off from expensive fuel little steam power plants in engine yards, barnyards, little villages. We wouldn’t be able to heat Minsk by wood, provide energy to large oil refineries. And we shouldn’t do that,” A. Lukashenka said. He underlined that it is necessary to give a choice to economic entities. “We wouldn’t cut off anybody, there would be a right for choice. You could use diesel oil, but only when you have money. If you don’t have money, burn wood,” the leader of the state said.

You’ll be imprisoned yourselves if you don’t imprison them
Lukashenka has strongly criticised Construction Ministry and its project institutes. As said by Lukashenka. During a subbotnik (volunteer clean-up), minister Navumau said: “A former minister Kurachkin should be imprisoned immediately” for the things he ha done at the position of minister and director of the institute where he was transferred from the ministry. “So why haven’t you imprisoned him yet? If you wouldn’t imprison him, you’ll be imprisoned yourself!” he shouted to the minister from his seat.
Lukashenka underlined that the situation with housing costs is not improving, but deteriorating, despite of the measures taken. “Some people have simply stopped selling rental spaces in expectation of another wave of price hike,” he stated and called upon the authorities of the capital to “get the facts straight with those who are residential spaces” instead of selling it to people who need it.
A. Lukashenka has also noted that as soon as “an order striated to be established in the sphere of participatory construction”, some people started saying that “participatory construction is unprofitable”. “There wouldn’t be illogical prices changing like a weather forecasts any more,” he said.

Lukashenka: Belarus, EU and US have something to say to each other
“The role of our country in the pan-European processes shouldn’t be underestimated,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said, addressing the parliament and the Belarusians on April 24.

“We are interested in normal mutually beneficial relations with the EU and the US. There are all necessary preconditions for a full-fledged dialogue”, he believes.

The president has underlined that Belarus is a key country “as far as energy resources, goods, passengers transit from Europe to Russia and Asian countries are concerned”. A. Lukashenka underlined that Belarus had put a secure barrier against illicit drugs trafficking, illegal migration and human trafficking”. “And it’s an essential factor in general stability and security in Europe,” he said.
A. Lukashenka has noted that Belarus, the EU and the US “have things to say each other in economy, politics and social sphere”. “We are ready to discuss any topics, without avoiding acute debate points,” he said. “But mutual readiness is necessary for that, a mutually advantageous dialogue, a desire of the both sides to find a mutually acceptable decision. We do not need inspectors, teachers, surveillants here. Common sense should prevail in our relations. Belarus is ready to be an equal partner, a reliable and predictable and responsible partner”.
Energy supplies flows diversification not a stab in the back of Russia

The process of diversification of energy deliveries to Belarus and a search for alternative suppliers cannot be called “a stab in the back of Russia”, Alyaksandar Lukashenka is sure.

“It’s not a stab in the back of Russia, not a refusal from a Russian vector. It’s a normal position,” the president of the country said, addressing the parliament and the nation.

“We should choose where it is better,” the head of the state is sure. He underlined that “in case Russia would offer a more profitable variant, we would choose Russia, and would pay by our labour and the things with have for this offer”.
“Every citizen should know clearly that we wouldn’t allow economy collapse. The results of the first quarter of the year show that. Houses would have heating and light. Enterprises would work as usual, tariffs for housing and public utilities would stay within the planned margin. This all could be achieved with the help of internal reserves – effective production and economical habits,” he said. “These may seem unachievable but resolvable tasks,” Lukashenka said.

Lukashenka: Belarus interested in developing relations with all CIS countries

Belarus is interested in developing bilateral relations with all CIS countries, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in his annual address to the National Assembly and the Belarusian nation on Tuesday.

"There are highly promising prospects for Belarus` cooperation with Ukraine and Azerbaijan," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that Belarus and Ukraine shared a "centuries-long common history." "Now the time has come to fill Belarusian-Ukrainian relations with completely new content. Thus, we will make a huge contribution to the strengthening of our countries` sovereign status, raise the geopolitical importance of the Eastern European region."

The head of state emphasized the importance of cooperation with Ukraine in securing reliable energy supplies to Western Europe.

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that Minsk sought to establish "very close ties" with Azerbaijan. "We should offer our Azerbaijani friends involvement in modern projects that are of interest to both sides. This concerns above all the energy sphere, but not only this. I`m sure that we also can be useful for each other in the manufacturing sector, agriculture, the sphere of services and high technologies, other areas."

The Belarusian leader pointed to Kazakhstan as another promising partner for Belarus. "This country has one of the world`s richest oil reserves. Our task is to develop mutually beneficial cooperation to the highest possible degree and there are all conditions for this," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka noted that Minsk`s policy to develop bilateral relations with all CIS countries did not mean its withdrawal from such ex-Soviet blocs like the Eurasian Economic Community, the Common Economic Space and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Nuclear power plant will be constructed. But not necessarily by Russia

Alyaksandr Lukashenka confirmed the government`s plans for the construction of Belarus` first-ever nuclear power plant, alleging that the controversial project was backed by the public.

"Life has prompted us to do this and I would suggest that certain citizens of our country and the so-called opposition should not play on this. They have failed to realize that they no longer keep up with the people`s opinion that already exists," he said while delivering his annual address to the National Assembly and the Belarusian people.

He lashed out at critics of the project, accusing them of using the situation for political gain

Mr. Lukashenka acknowledged that Belarusians might have reservations about the country`s nuclear power program. "But, and I say this yet another time, we`re surrounded by nuclear power plants on all sides. The safest model of a nuclear power plant relying on state-of-the-art technologies and the most recent scientific achievements will be built in Belarus," he said.

The Belarusian leader stressed that the atomic power program was vital to Belarus` effort to end its dependence on energy supplies from other countries.

Mr. Lukashenka noted that the contract to build the power plant would be awarded through an open and transparent procedure. The contract will be given to a company that will offer the best conditions in terms of price and quality, he said, adding that it could be both a Russian and a Western company.

"If, say, its [Russia`s] control systems are weaker than those by Siemens, we will buy these systems from Siemens. If no country can build a nuclear reactor better than Russia does, we will do this together with the Russian Federation," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka ridiculed the European Union`s strategy toward Belarus, which offers, among other things, assistance in the energy sector in exchange for democratization. "They told us that `we will look at how your society will democratize, what freedom of the media will be, what election regulations will be.` Look, this is ludicrous. We offer them almost $2 billion for a [nuclear plant] unit and they set conditions for us, speaking about election regulations," he said.