Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 29 November (BelTA) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave an interview to the Russian federal state TV channel Russia 24. He was interviewed by Deputy Director of the Russia 1 TV channel Sergey Brilev, BelTA informs.

The interview was about Belarus’ economic development and major drivers of growth, the Eurasian Economic Union, global agenda and international politics, digital transformations in the Eurasian space.

“Everything is in our heads. We know which way to go and how. The Eurasian union will soon mark five years since founding. There are examples to see and study: various unions, including the European Union. We understand what we should do and should not to avoid ‘a Brexit’,” the head of state said. “We know everything, but we do not do everything. You know that we create problems with our own hands: barriers emerge in trade although we agreed on the free movement of capital, workforce, commodities, services and so on. I told Dmitry Anatolyevich [Medvedev] that we see national egoism every step on the way in trade. But we know that this should not happen.”

Alexander Lukashenko also highlighted the importance of fulfilling all agreements. “We must fulfill these agreements by all means. This is not the case yet,” he said.

Sergey Brilev told Belarusian journalists that the interview was held in the context of the high- and top-level events in the EAEU. These are the recent meeting of the heads of government in Minsk and the forthcoming meeting of the EAEU heads of state. According to the Russian journalist, the topic of the Eurasian Economic Union in correlation with the personality and position of the Belarusian president is also part of his professional biography. In particular, Sergey Brilev recalled the interview about the EAEU matters with the Belarusian head of state which took place several years ago.

In his words, a series of interviews with the EAEU leaders will be broadcast by the TV channels of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company next week. It is planned that the interview with the Belarusian president will be shown in two formats. The full version will be aired by Russia 24 in the run-up to the summit in Saint Petersburg. Parts of the interview will be shown in the Saturday news program Vesti v Subbotu on 1 December.

The Russian journalists recorded an interview with the Belarusian head of state as part of their work on a more extensive television piece. “The program Vesti v Subbotu will include parts of the interview and other materials that we have recorded in Belarus during two days. This is the footage from Belarusian flagship enterprises (MAZ). For example, yesterday we visited the NASB Microbiology Institute where Belarusian and Russian researchers are engaged in unique projects. We have also visited a furniture factory,” Sergey Brilev said.

He also shared the impressions about the interview. He said that the conversation was very intense. “It’s always interesting to talk to him. You [Belarusian journalists] are accustomed to this but when it comes to the discussion of certain landmark moments such as a sleepless night here [the interview was recorded at the Palace of Independence where the hours-long Normandy format meeting took place in 2015] or any important stages, like the one in the Eurasian union right now, he is truly an ideal company,” the Russian journalist emphasized.

Russia 24 TV channel is part of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. It is available in Russia and other countries. Russia 24 is one of the most quoted TV channels in Russia.