Lukashenka: EU and USA Bring Pressure On Minsk Because Of Friendship With Russia

Integration aspirations of Belarus, especially regarding Russia, have become the reason of pressure on Belarusian state on the part of the EU and USA, told Alyaksandr Lukashenka today at the meeting with the heads of foreign policy structures of the CIS in Minsk. “It is our strategic line, and we would not turn away from it,” the head of state underlined. Another reason for external pressure on Belarus named by Lukashenka was determination of the leadership of the country in many economical and political questions. “We are told that we are to follow a certain policy, but this policy is against the interests of our neighbours, including Russia. Or we are prescribed which enterprise we are to privatize and to bargain away,” Lukashenka emphasized. Besides, as said by him, Belarus’ political system is not expedient for the West. “We have decided all this by referendum, it is a will of our people,” Lukashenka told. He pointed out that Belarus is not creating problems to anybody, neither to neighbours in the CIS nor in the EU. “Some requirements related to human rights are imposed upon us. But we have the most peace-loving and calm state. There is no confessional strife, ethnic conflicts. Our country lives and works serenely. People are busy, today’s unemployment rate is equal to 1.5%. By the end of 2005 it is to become 1%. We are paying salaries, we respect people, we accept everybody no matter from which country they arrive,” told Belarusian ruler. As said by him, charging Belarus with being a dictator ship is “a cooked-up claim on the part of the West”.