Events
Lukashenko opines on situation inside and around CIS
MINSK, 1 June (BelTA) – The CIS countries need to stick together, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with participants of the 52nd meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services in Minsk on 1 June, BelTA has learned.
“No one needs us, except for other countries that emerged on the post-Soviet space after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In fact, we speak the same language, we have a common economy, we have common markets, we cooperate in the manufacturing industry, and so on. It took generations to achieve it. So why destroy it? Why ruin this common market?” the president asked rhetorically.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, closer cooperation between the former Soviet republics brings them significant economic benefits. When, for example, Uzbekistan stepped up cooperation with the Commonwealth, this generated an extra $1.5 billion for the country, and the figure is even higher today. “It means that it is here where we belong. No one invited you to other markets. Why ruin it today?” the head of state asked.
The president recalled how he once tried to convince the leaders of Ukraine and Georgia not to rush out of the CIS. “It will be more difficult to return, but there will be no escaping it. Economic considerations will push us to do it,” he is convinced.
“Here is another example. It seems that Ukraine means the world for Europe, the USA. They threw in their lot with Ukraine. If so, they need to support it. Yet, when it comes to basic things… As soon as Ukraine took out its grain from warehouses and started sending it to Europe, everyone shut themselves off from it, including frenzied Balts, and frenzied Poles, and even Slovaks. Everyone closed their markets for Ukrainian grain. Why? Because prices for their own grain began to drop. Farmers got indignant. Grain is just one thing. What else will Ukraine be able to sell on the Western market? Nothing. Once the war is over, they will come to us anyway,” the Belarusian leader is sure.
An uncertain situation has also evolved in Moldova, the president noted. Due to short-sighted decisions of local politicians, the country’s economy has started to contract. “Is it really what they wanted?” asked the head of state.
“The key is economy and people’s well-being,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
The president gave another example: the West is trying to bring Belarus and Russia to their knees, but this only leads to the opposite. “A revolution is already unfolding there. Questions arise as to why they give so much money to Ukraine to kill people, while their own lives are getting worse and worse. And this trend is not just taking shape, it will soon reach its peak. Today, the West and the Americans want some pause in Ukraine, they want to bring hostilities to a halt. Why so? In order to hold elections, first of all, in the United States of America. Let them sit down at the negotiating table and come to an agreement to stop the war, instead of looking for some ways to achieve a respite before they start anew. We have gone through this many times. We are not buying it,” the head of state said.
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