Events

MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko thinks a wave of self-determinations of regions may start and this is dangerous.

"As for the wave of self-determinations: many hands have started itching, but as Viktor Chernomyrdin said they started itching in the wrong place," said the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that by asking this question the journalists draw him into a discussion on very serious matters, especially on the precedents. "I would tell the West that Crimea is dangerous not because it became a part of Russia. Precedents are important,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus President recalled that he had to sign the Budapest memorandum on nuclear security assurances. "I had to sign this shameful document in the presence of the UK Prime Minister, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin, when our “great political figures” decided to remove all nuclear weapons without any preconditions, free of charge. Ukraine and Kazakhstan did the same. Back then the three states - Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom- assured us of economic security, political, territorial integrity and all other things,” he said. "This is dangerous. Some states have withdrawn, and Ukraine stated that it is withdrawing from this agreement. The states that are on the verge of production of nuclear weapons are getting off the leash. The consequences can be even more terrible. A bad precedent is being created,” said the Belarusian leader.

"It is bad that medium-sized, small states begin to think that they cannot protect themselves and maintain their territorial integrity. A wave of self-determinations may start and this is dangerous. Yet if you can hold a referendum and resolve a problem, then why not?” the President noted. "I think we can discuss this issue hypothetically today, and the time will show what will happen," he added.