Opinions & Interviews
Belarus president praises unity in Moldova
MINSK, 20 June (BelTA) – Belarus supports Moldova’s leadership on the policy of preserving national unity. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he met with Moldova President Igor Dodon on 20 June, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I thank you for this visit. After all the turbulent events I would like to congratulate you and the entire Moldovan nation, the Moldovan elite on your decently recovering from a complicated situation. While in the thick of these events you may not feel it as acutely as we do. We were worried and rooted for you.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that before meeting with the Moldovan leader he had met with Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik. “A hard destiny befell that country: they were factionalized, they didn’t understand who was trying to rule, part of the nation inclined one way, the other part the other way. Their life is very difficult,” the head of state stated. “Understanding that my next meeting would be with you, I was thinking about Moldova: you did well to preserve this unity. One cannot comprehend it now. One cannot comprehend everything when one is inside this cauldron, but one feels it more acutely from the outside. With the passage of time, when it becomes a historic record, it will be studied and comprehended. The generations that will replace ours will appreciate your preserving the unity that Moldova has now. Although it is a relative unity due to Transdniestria, nevertheless, it means a lot.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that with its confident actions the Moldovan government had demonstrated its fortitude and determination. “Just wise people,” he said. “I think on this hard road you will have to deal with a lot as the president in order to raise the living standards of the Moldovans, who count on you, to a normal level. We are contributing to it and are ready to continue this cooperation for the benefit of our nations.”
Igor Dodon came to Minsk to attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Games. His arrival prompted the meeting with the Belarus president. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out: “We have a good reason: sport has always united people. I strongly wish it to contribute to overall unity in our region. But I can say about Moldova and Belarus that we are united as it is and are very close from the point of view of economy. We follow the same agenda in politics however hard the situation here and there may be.”
The Moldova president briefly talked about the events that happened in his country in the last few days. In his words, it was not a simple period of time and he had to bear the main risks. “It turned out that the new government we’ve created, the parliamentary majority is not homogeneous yet it matches the structure that the Moldovan society has. You know we are split in two: some people want to be with the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia while other ones want to be with the European Union. For the first time in the 27 years of Moldova’s independence both left-wing parties and right-wing ones have united for the sake of Moldova,” he remarked.
Igor Dodon stressed that the country had been supported by greatly different foreign partners. “I don’t think there are other examples in the region where Russia, the United States, and the European Union are of the same opinion,” he pointed out. “Certainly, it is my job to support this fragile balance.”
In 2018 Belarus-Moldova trade totaled $222 million, with Belarus’ export at $147.4 million. Belarus’ exports to Moldova are petroleum products, petroleum coke and bitumen, timber, tractors and truck tractors, fiberglass, automobiles, ceramic tiles, tires, and medications. Belarus imports alcoholic beverages, corn, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, and vegetables.
There are over 60 representative offices, daughter enterprises, distribution chain entities and distributors of Belarusian companies in Moldova. Three enterprises have been set up to assemble trolleybuses and tractors. Belarus is home to 25 companies with Moldovan capital.
The Moldovan team during the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 includes 50 athletes and 44 coaches. The Moldovan athletes will compete in shooting, karate, canoeing, wrestling, sambo, boxing, judo, table tennis, and badminton.
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