Lukashenka: “We’ll look for happiness in another part of the planet” (Video)
- 29.05.2009, 13:27
The Belarusian dictator made a number of harsh statements blaming Putin for failure to perform “union” agreements and ordered officials to stop “begging help from Russia”.
On May 29, a day after a meeting with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, Lukashenka held a session on actual issues of the social and economic development of the country, Interfax reports. The Belarusian ruler gave special instructions to prime minister Syarhei Sidorski and head of the National Bank of BelarusPyotr Prakapovich.
“I warn you, Mr Syarhei (Sidorski). You come and tell how it is bad in Russia, they have no progress, and make me ask Putin why Russia doesn’t hear us. This time has passed. If you can’t gain success in Russia, stop bowing to them, stop begging and crying. We’ll look for happiness in another part of the planet. I consciously state it in public,” Lukashenka said.
“Yesterday we witnessed an interesting situation. The president and Vladimir Putin were discussing things from private to state ones in an absolutely friendly manner. Meanwhile Aleksei Kudrin held a press conference before the session of the “union” Council of Ministers in order to sow panic in Belarus,” Lukashenka notes. According to him, “he (Kudrin) is fully consolidated with our wackos instructs us on how we should work.”
“If their economy is that good, where did the 10% GDP decline come from?” Lukashenka wonders.
The Belarusian ruler said: “Mr Syarhei, enough leading ministers into beaten tracks! We should go to other places, where we are needed and should trade — a dozen of tractors, one combine harvester, a spoonful of sugar if we have to.”
Lukashenka told Belarus had agreed with Kazakhstan on selling 40,000 tonnes of Belarusian sugar. “The contract is signed. What’s your problem? Why do you go to Russia where you are kicked?” Lukashenka asked. He added: “Don’t you understand that it is not the first time when they want to get us by their bare hands for free?”
According to Lukashenka, “yesterday Putin said he had discussed the situation with Kudrin while flying to Minsk. And after that Kudrin ranted out a speech. Wasn’t it arranged? It was, totally.”
Lukashenka said “the case was not in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Recognition of Abkhazia and Ossetia is not an affair of Russia. This is the question between us and these countries, with which we have excellent contacts and they know our tactics.”
Lukash3nka also added: “I answered the question long ago and nobody will pressure us about it from the East and the West. We are an independent state and will do everything in our interests.”
“So, remember: o praying or begging,” Lukashenka ordered the government.
“If they don’t have the $500 million that they promised a long time ago and that we included in our budget, don’t go and beg,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka remarked.
He urged the government: “Let’s build our economy and policy as a sovereign state. We have many levers to influence the situation, those challenges that we faces, including in Russia.”
Lukashenka said: “This is a big game. Keep it mind. If we make it, the state will survive. If we don’t, we will be crushed and pocketed. And we will be running begging for sops.”