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Lukashenko: If Belarus has to choose, it will always side with Russia

MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko reaffirmed the inviolability of allied relations with Russia as he addressed the Federation Council during his official visit to the Russian Federation, BelTA has learned.

“We are not drifting to one side or the other. Although some politicians, experts and journalists often make such accusations. Belarus has always pursued a multi-vector (or, as they say nowadays, multipolar) foreign policy. How does it differ from Russia? It doesn’t. This policy is understandable in view of our geographical location and openness of the economy,” the head of state said.

He noted that Belarus has built a strategic and all-weather partnership with China. The country is also interested in comprehensive cooperation with members of the CIS, SCO, and BRICS, seeks to develop trade with Asian, African, and Latin American states, and wants good relations with the neighboring Europe and the United States.

“But our special, closest, brotherly relations with Russia have always been our main priority and will always be. We openly talk about this all the time. To any criticism regarding our support for you, I always answer: if we have to choose, we will always side with our Russia. It cannot be otherwise. Belarus will never abandon Russia alone, just as Russia will never abandon Belarus. This is the choice of the Belarusian people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

These words of the Belarusian president were greeted with applause.

The head of state also recalled that back in 1995 the people of Belarus made a decision to grant the Russian language the status of the state language at a referendum and supported the course towards the integration with Russia. “Have we deviated from those historical decisions over 30 years? No,” the Belarusian leader noted.

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