Europeans and Americans should find power within themselves to abandon false stereotypes and outmoded attitudes. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he met with professors and students of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University on 25 May.
“Don’t try to shape us using someone else’s moulds. Europeans and Americans should find power within themselves to abandon false stereotypes and outmoded attitudes. It is high time we had started building productive cooperation in the interests of our nations. We have always been ready for it and are ready now,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. He remarked that relations with the USA as the world’s leading power are important.
In particular, Alexander Lukashenko remarked that the European Union is the key partner for Belarus in transit of cargoes, passengers from the West to the East and vice versa. The European Union is also a powerful trade and economic partner for Belarus along with Russia. “This is why we aim to establish normal relations with them but we always get sand thrown in the wheels. Political conditions are set forth. Power should be divided and distributed among various interest groups,” said the President of Belarus.
“We cannot break apart the present constitutional system and distribute it among interest groups, political parties and so on,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. He remarked that opinion polls, even so-called independent ones, testify that about 1.5% of Belarusians are in favor of political parties. The figure is below the statistical accuracy threshold.
“Why do we have to go along the way we are forced to?” wondered the President of Belarus.
“There is pressure on all sides. The Russian Federation leadership has suddenly become democratic, pressure has started. I hear almost declarations by [Russian Foreign Minister] Lavrov concerning the observance of either human rights or democratic principles. I sit and think: look who is talking,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
