Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 April (BelTA) – The world is witnessing rising tensions and confrontation, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said in his State of the Nation Address on 24 April, BelTA has learned.

“Mankind is facing a crossroads. We have entered an age of uncertainty and prolonged instability. There is no longer a place on the planet where one can hide and watch the ongoing processes from afar. Security has become a tangible phenomenon. Today everybody sees that it is easy to lose it and that it takes heroic effort to keep it. The fight for a place in the world hierarchy has intensified. Strategic rivalry, competition between the states have become commonplace. All this is accompanied by the escalating tensions and confrontations that have already started to go off-scale,” the president said.

“We see aggressive lobbying, the imposition of one’s economic and political will, and open hostility towards opponents. National egoism, disrespect for interests of partners and even allies, egocentrism and the violation of international norms gradually become an integral part of the policy of the world’s major players,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to the president, trade wars have swept the world. “The United States, being guided by tough protectionism, is fighting against China. A large-scale war of sanctions has been launched against Russia. We have already reached the point when the EU, following the advice from overseas, restricts the operation of its own companies that work together with our eastern neighbor on the oil market. We do not have to go far for examples. Take, for example, the dairy, meat and sugar conflicts that our closest partner wages against us by blocking access for Belarusian natural products to its market,” the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the world trading system is in fact breaking down. Under these circumstances, Belarus’ peace-loving and balanced foreign policy as well as its initiatives, such as the promotion of connectivity in the Greater Europe, partnership between various integration associations, renewal of the pan-European dialogue on strengthening confidence-building measures, security and cooperation is of utmost relevance today. “Belarus, with its social and political concord, interfaith peace and multipronged policy, is of special value for our allies,” the president said.

In his words, it is crucial to keep the balance inside the country amid a growing unrest across the world. “We can see how it is easy to spread havoc and hysteria in the current digital age. This is how they start color revolutions in the 21^st century which have a sad ending for their participants. I would suggest those who are debating whether we need an army or the police visit the countries that witnessed the Arab Spring or Europe which had to deal with a migration wave and ask ordinary people there if they feel safe at home,” said Alexander Lukashenko.