Republic

Belarus President: no bowing to Russia

MINSK, May 29 (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko demanded that the government must not bow to Russia. The President made the statement at a government meeting held on May 29 to discuss current issues relating to the country’s social and economic development. The head of state remarked: “I would like to personally warn you, Sergei Sergeyevich Sidorsky, and you, Piotr Petrovich Prokopovich. One of you comes up and tells me how bad it is in Russia, that there are no improvements there, and makes me pose questions before the President of Russia and before Vladimir Putin, stating that Russia doesn’t listen to us. From now on this time is over”. “If things don’t work out in Russia, bowing, nagging and weeping is useless. We should seek our happiness in another part of the planet. I consciously state it in public. Yesterday we witnessed an interesting situation. The President of Belarus and Vladimir Putin were discussing things from private to state ones in an absolutely friendly manner. The discussion went well. Meanwhile Aleksei Kudrin [Deputy Chairman of the Government, Finance Minister of Russia – BelTA] held a press conference before the session of the Union Council of Ministers in order to sow panic in Belarus. He is fully consolidated with our wackos, who, fuelled by Western money, yap and instruct us on how we should work,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “If their economy is that good, where did the 10% GDP decline come from? Our economy is different, but our GDP growth stands at 1.5%. Sergei Sergeyevich, 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”. The President informed about the deal to sell 40,000 tonnes of sugar to Kazakhstan, with the relevant papers signed. “What is your problem? Why do you go to Russia where you are kicked? Don’t you understand that it is not the first time when they want to get us for free? Yesterday Vladimir Putin said that he had discussed the situation with Kudrin while flying to Minsk. And after that Kudrin broke out his rant. Wasn’t it arranged? It was, totally,” emphasised Alexander Lukashenko. Ossetia and Abkhazia are not that the issue. “The bottom line is the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is the question between us and these countries, with which we have excellent contacts and they know our tactics,” remarked Alexander Lukashenko. The President underlined that he answered the question long ago and “nobody will pressure us about it from the East and the West”. “We are an independent sovereign country and we will do everything in our interest,” said the President of Belarus. “Therefore, you must remember: no praying or begging. 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,” remarked Alexander Lukashenko. “Let’s build our economy and policy as a sovereign independent state. We have many levers to influence the situation, those challenges that we faces, including in Russia. Let’s use them. When will we start thinking as civil servants of an independent sovereign state?” the President wondered. The President of Belarus underlined: “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. Our sorrow is nothing. But we lead 10 million talented and hard-working people, who we mustn’t expose or deceive”.

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