Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: We are not barbarians, we don’t want confrontation

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – Belarus wants no aggravation and confrontation against the backdrop of the refugee crisis. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he received a report from Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik and President’s Aide – Inspector for Grodno Oblast Yuri Karayev on 22 November, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Our policy regarding this migrant crisis will remain what it was originally. We don’t transfer anyone across the border intentionally. And we are not going to. People are going there. It has been said a thousand times why. This is why it is necessary to get the message across to the Poles, to every Pole and show to them that we are not barbarians, we don’t want confrontation. We don’t need it. Because we understand that a war is unavoidable if we take things too far. And it will be a catastrophe. We understand it perfectly well. We don’t want any aggravation. But we will protect these poor souls as well as we can.”

“It is what the situation is and Belarus’ position is today,” he stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that ordinary people, people in Poland, women and mothers have already started resenting the prohibition of passage to the refugees. “Military and border guard personnel already fail to understand Poland’s leadership. We also hear their talks. They approach us saying: ‘Brothers, let’s live like we used to live’. Well, let’s do it, we don’t mind. In other words, we see that the behavior of the Polish nation is changing. They are people, too. Regardless of how monoethnic they are, but they are people. Ordinary people raise their voices. It disturbs Poland’s leadership. And things will be worse later on. Later on people will understand that Lukashenko is not the reason for this exodus of refugees.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that this is why Poland’s leadership – Poland President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki – need the border situation to get worse. “They exploit it in order to divert attention of the international community and Poles from these [their own domestic and foreign] problems. We will not give them the chance. We will treat these migrants like human beings. It is not such a big problem. They should look at what is going on in the Mediterranean Sea, how many people die there. Thousands of people are getting trafficked [to the European Union] via the Balkans and other countries, across the Mediterranean Sea. They keep silent [about it]. But they [blame] Belarus, it is clear why.”

The president also thanked Vladimir Karanik and Yuri Karayev for working hard to resolve the problems relating to the refugee situation. “I am very glad that you are taking part in it. If you didn’t, it would be very difficult to do it from Minsk,” he said.

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