Opinions & Interviews

Sovereignty, independence identified as vital conditions in Belarus’ foreign policy

MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) – The fact that Belarus is a sovereign and independent country is the only condition in interaction with foreign partners. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement in his address to newly elected and outgoing members of both chambers of the parliament on 5 December, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Maybe we acted upon intuition or the truth of life but we’ve clearly determined our foreign policy. One should be at peace with neighbors. Neighbors cannot be chosen. We cannot sever our links with traditionally close allies such as republics of the former Soviet Union.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that it is necessary to cooperate with technologically advanced countries. “This is why we cooperate with Europe. We don’t do it because we want to turn our backs on our Russian brothers. Everyone wants to go there. [Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs] Sergei Lavrov said recently that Russia also tries to establish friendly relations with Europe. What do you want from Belarus then? A country in the center of Europe? We don’t make the rules,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The president stressed that Belarus cannot but be on good terms with the USA. “If they want it. Because it is an empire,” he noted.

“We cannot afford having bad relations. We were lucky to establish good relations with a new empire that has been reborn – the People’s Republic of China. One cannot blame us for changing sides all the time. We always honestly fulfill our commitments,” the head of state said.

“If we patiently and calmly move forward, developing our economy, no external threats will be dangerous for us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.

“Don’t try to scare us that we are next after Ukraine, that Russia will launch a war against us, that the West will launch an offensive against us. We exist to avoid any offensives. All these claims are fake news no one wants,” the Belarusian leader concluded.

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