Lukashenka: “However much we would kiss certain places of the West...” (Video)
- 8.09.2008, 13:32
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has had a conference for regional Russian media today. The head of the Belarusian state spoke about deploying of US missile system in Europe, serious increase in Russian gas prices for Belarus, war in Georgia, and recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
About deploying of American missile defence system in Europe
Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted there’s no talk about deploying of nuclear arms and additional elements of Russian air defence system in Belarus.
“The West has different variants of development, including one that we deploy Russian air defence assets or nuclear weapon. There are no talks about this today,” A. Lukashenka said.
He also noted that “We are not a hawk, the West needn’t fear”.
“We have faced a challenge, and we must reply, weather we will or not, in order the situation similar to one in Caucasus not to arise. It is the worst variant, when it comes to clashes,” the head of the Belarusians state believes.
He also thinks expansion of NATO and missile defence deployment close to Belarusian borders is not a problem only for Russia and Belarus. “It’s good that they (missile defence elements – IF) were deployed, because you, the Russians, will see what has been deployed near our borders for the last two years. There is full of control and surveillance means at the border. NATO planes brassily monitor the adjacent territories and sometimes fly over the territory of the “union state”, A. Lukashenka said. “We had to respond these challenges, we should think about it together,” he noted.
The head of the Belarusian state emphasised that a reaction to NATO expansion and missile defence deployment will be “proportional and adequate in order to defend the interests of our states and our peoples”.
“How to react? We should think about it together. They don’t understand us, however much we would kiss certain places of the West. I have some ideas, but I wouldn’t like to say now how we need to react. I just confine myself to vague generalities. The Russians and we will do our best to ensure safety of our citizens,” A. Lukashenka concluded.
About Russian gas prices
Alyaksandr Lukashenka taxes Russia with failing union agreements on creation equal economic opportunities.
“Why do you drive us into corner with this energy? We have an interstate agreement under which economic entities in Belarus and Russia should have equal conditions. Why did you denounce this agreement?” A. Lukashenka wondered at the press conference for Russian regional media in Minsk.
“Some media say Lukashenka will bargain for gas now. But I didn’t remind the Russian president about gas problems. I suggested a conception: you don’t force us out of your economic area, making five-fold difference at energy, we buy you equipment at lower prices,” he added.
The head of state thinks Russia “should decide: here are friends and relatives, and there are competitors and enemies, if there are some”. “In order, we, who are not indifferent to Russia, know for certain what Russia wants. To my mind, we are on this stage now,” he said.
About friendship with the Russians
Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not going to build relations with the West in the prejudice of cooperation with Russia.
“Our position is known for the West, they understand that we can’t be friends with the US at cost of Russia. I have already said that friendship with the Russians is not a bargain object,” A. Lukashenka told.
As the head of the Belarusian state noted, “the West treats us in such a way not because we present a problem for the West. No. It is because our relations with Russia, building of a “union state”. I was accused of being a communist, a pro-Soviet man, ad now I am instigating this,” A. Lukashenka said.
According to him, “we don’t need a situation like this (confrontation with the West – IF)”. “We will find relations with Russia, we wil come to terms fast, as it is happening now. But it’s not so simple with the West. So, according to the doctrine of our foreign policy, we are not going to swear with anyone. We are a bridge between the East and the West, it is our geopolitical wealth, like gas and oil in Russia,” A. Lukashenka noted.
That’s why, according to him, “we suggested to the West to start talks”. “This process has begun,” the Belarusian ruler stated. “We tell to our western partners not to offer to us to improve the relations, by harming relations with our strategic union and partner – Russia,” A. Lukashenka said.
He also told: “We should learn the experience of the Americans. Saakashvili (Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili) did the worst for the US, himself and the whole world. But the Americans didn’t leave them alone, in both material and informational ways. They promised to give a billion dollars. They said they had already brought this billion,” the Belarusian president said.
“Everyone should deal with its allies like that,” A. Lukashenka emphasised, reminding about recent problems in Belarusian-Russian relations. “When Russia increased gas prices 2.5-fold and imposed oil duties that doesn’t meet our union relations,” the president said.
According to him, “in such a way we can be forced out of Russian economic and trade field”. “How can we be competitive when energy prices are different? When Tatarstan and Bashkiria have twofold lower prices for greenhouses than we have. In this situation, how a Belarusian cucumber can be competitive with a Tatar or a Bashkir one?” A. Lukashenka noted.
Lukashenka said Belarus would defend interests of Russia on its territory if it was necessary. “If a fire breaks out here and it will be targeted at Russia, we won’t let tanks go through Belarus to Moscow,” A. Lukashenka said.