Lukashneka: "As if elections in Russia take place diferently from Belarus"
- 11.05.2010, 15:41
The Belarusian leader is not satisfied by the support of Russian deputies to the PACE resolution on Belarus.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has expressed bewilderment over the position of Russian deputy Sergei Markov, who supported the resolution on Belarus at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, "Interfax" informs.
"At the PACE a Russian deputy Markov voted against Belarus. Allegedly the election held in Belarus was not correct, and that should be dealt with. Secondly, in the resolution Americans and Europeans have been called upon to deal with the issues of human rights and death p[enalty," Lukashenka said, meeting with Governor of the Kurgan Oblast of the Russian Federation.
In this connection the Belarusian ruler said: "As if elections in Russia took place in a different way, not like in Belarus. As if the situation with human rights in our country is worse than in Russia".
Lukashenka stated that the message about such a position of the Russian deputy Markov was conveyed to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev during the last meeting in Moscow. "It was a surprise for Mr Medvedev, and he said he was going to look into the matter," he noted.
Giving estimation to the position of Deputy Markov, Lukashenka said: "I understand that pinprick should have been made already". "But one should not go to the international arena with that and wash dirty linen in public," the Belarusian ruler said.
The Belarusian ruler asks not to throw him away "to the sidelines"
Speaking about the necessity to build mutually beneficial relations between Belarus and Russia, Lukashenka stated: "We do not want to be anyone's sponger. But we want our Mother Russia not to put us on the sidelines or throw away to the fringes of society".
In this connection he returned to the problem related to imposing duties on Russian oil delivered to Belarus. "Why oil duties were imposed for us, and not for Kazakhstan? Explain us why we are worse than the Kazakhs? Why they are trying to make the gas price for us higher than in Germany? Wgat for?" Lukashenka asked. Besides, he noted: "I do not understand why Russia gives Mozyr oil refinery, its own entreprise, the oil which is impossible to buy. But oil is not recieved however, the refinery does not takes it for processing".
In such a situation, as said by him, "we have started to look for other sources, found oil in Venezuela, started to process it at Mozyr oil refinery. And again it caused Russia's misunderstanding and indignation." "If you are not happy with Venezuelan oil, let us process Russian one. But let us calculate whether it would be profitable for the country, or at least to this Belarusian-Russian entreprise," Lukashenka said.
In the conversation with the Russian governor the president reminded that two Russian military bases are located in Belarus, "and we do not ask Russia to pay a kopeck". "Moreover, the Belarusian army is Russia's stronghold in the West," Lukasheneka noted, reminding about the agreement signed with Russia on creation of the joint air defence system. "I say that not as a reproach, I do not want you to think that Lukashenka has something anti-Russian up his sleeve," Lukashenka stated. "There is no more pro-Russian person in Belarus than Lukashenka. I am proving that for 15 years, you have never had problems with Belarus," he underlined.
Besides, as said by him, "we are in the West and call me a dictator not because I am a dictator and somebody fears Belarus." "They are worried that we are sailing in the same boat with Russia in that. Russia does not have such relations with anyone else: neither in the military or political sphere, or in the sphere of economy. That's what worries them," he specified. He noted: "When those who stand first are beaten, those who are behind sould not kick in the back. You should see that it is not easy for me here," Lukahsneka said.
Lukashenka has also stated that he does not accept the word "partner" in Belarusian-Russian relations. "As Putin likes to say: pragmatic relations of partners". "I say to him: we are not partners. What kind of partner I am for you? We are one nation. We are brothers. And partners are Americans, Europeans," Lukashenka said.
He underlined that "Russia cannot lose Belarus, I am saying that to your leadership openly. It must not happen. And if that happens, Russia would never find allies in the post-Soviet space, not to speak of the other world," Lukashenka said.
"We must be together, I understand that firmly. We do not need skewed bookkeeping here: who delivers oil and to whom, how much gas is delived," the ruler stated.