Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko urges partners in post-Soviet space to stick together

MINSK, 19 August (BelTA) – It is important to preserve unity in the post-Soviet space. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement in an extended version of the recent interview with the TV channel Rossiya. The extended version was aired by the TV channel Belarus One in the evening, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We [Belarus] don’t pussyfoot like some post-Soviet countries do. They want to take something from Russia and give nothing in return. I met with the ministers of internal affairs [of the CIS states]. I talked a lot about that. It won’t do. Let’s be together! The time will come when you will turn to Russia and will ask it for support and aid. You cannot ask other countries for that. For instance, something happened in Kazakhstan. What country did you ask? China, India, nearby Pakistan… No. You cried for Putin’s and Lukashenko’s assistance! And we redeployed [CSTO collective peacekeeping forces in January 2022 to assist Kazakhstan’s law enforcement agencies] within half a day. Our aircraft landed in Kazakhstan right away. We calmed things down.”

“I don’t reproach anyone. And I don’t say it to pay back my debt. But you have to understand that a situation may arise when you have to ask us for help instead of someone else. Nobody will come to your aid. And then again we’ve created economic space. This post-Soviet space is more or less okay. Why should we lose it? Does Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan expect their goods to sell well in America or the European Union? Totally not. They may buy something they lack for $2 million and will refuse to buy more. And the surplus is excessive. They want to sell it to Russia since there is a common market. This is why why do we have to lose what we have? Let’s add to what we have,” the Belarusian leader encouraged foreign partners.

“You also see the policy Armenia pursues. I didn’t even pay attention to it and don’t want to talk about it. But what kind of policy is that?! Well, who needs Armenians except us? Nobody needs them. They are free to develop their economy and take guidance from what they have. What France? What Macron? Macron will be gone tomorrow and everyone will forget about Armenia. Just the way it happened to the United States of America [when the USA withdrew from Afghanistan],” the president said.

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