Lukashenka doesn’t want to join EU

• 28.11.2008, 8:39

“We don’t have such tasks to join the European Union,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka told in an interview to Agence France-Presse. The text of the interview was published on the official website of the head of state on November 27.

“We haven’t even discussed this problem. We will probably face these questions later. But now, we don’t have such questions, moreover, our country is a member of the military and political Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Besides, the country is a military and political ally of the Russian Federation,” Lukashenka said.

Speaking about relations with the European Union, the Belarusian ruler said: “With God’s help we should remove all economic barriers, existing in our relations with the European Union through no fault of ours.” In the view of the head of state, Belarus will be “a good economic partner” for the EU.

At the same time, Lukashenka emphasised, if there were an issue on Belarus’ joining the EU, the country would be the most prepared in comparison with other countries. “We have no problems with budget deficit. This matter is settled. We haven’t created and are not creating problems for anyone. We are a quiet, peaceful European country living for the interests of the European Union,” he said.

The Belarusian head of state also noted that Belarus shares Russia’s concerns on NATO expanding. “We understand there’s no need in NATO expansion. We are closer to NATO military forces than Russia is, we have common borders with NATO member-countries,” he said.

Lukashenka suggested not to expand NATO but to think how “the military machine that both you and we have can be demounted”.

Unlike dictator Lukashenka, most leaders of the Belarusian opposition unambiguously stand for Belarus to become a member of the European Union.