Official Website of the Republic of Belarus
News
Belarus Events Calendar
Belarus’ Top Tourist Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus
Belarusian sanatoria and health resorts
Souvenirs from Belarus
| Home | News | News

News & Events in Belarus

26 Aug 2014

Minsk summit participants invited to forfeit political ambitions, think about human destinies

Minsk summit participants invited to forfeit political ambitions, think about human destinies

MINSK, 26 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko encourages participants of the talks in Minsk to forfeit their political ambitions in favor of thinking about human destinies. Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he opened the meeting of the presidents of the Customs Union member states, Ukraine, and high-ranking representatives of the European Union, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko noted he wished the meeting’s agenda had been more joyful. He went on saying that unfortunately, life leaves no choice and today it is necessary to discuss matters that seemed a thing of the past for Europe.

“The armed conflict in Ukraine’s east does not stop. Innocent civilians are dying. The economic infrastructure of the rich and previously flourishing country is getting destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are forced to flee their native lands. The entire region is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. These are not some old photos. It is our today’s reality,” stated the Belarusian head of state.

“Can we stay indifferent towards the ongoing events? Certainly we cannot,” said the Belarus President.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded about what had preceded the meeting in Minsk. He said that during the conversation on the Ukraine President’s inauguration day Piotr Poroshenko made a request for the Customs Union not to hurry with sanctions against Ukraine due to the country’s signing the agreement on association with the European Union. Piotr Poroshenko also asked Alexander Lukashenko to notify the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan about his point of view. Back then, according to the Belarusian leader, Piotr Poroshenko suggested holding a meeting and discussing all the existing issues. “I have fulfilled his request. I have informed my presidential counterparts about the conversation and its content. The presidents were unanimous in their desire to get together in Minsk and invite anyone interested to take part in the meeting,” said the Belarusian head of state. He pointed out that as part of the preparations for the meeting more than one round of consultations had been held at the level of heads of state and experts, including consultations with high-ranking officials of the European Union.

Minsk summit participants invited to forfeit political ambitions, think about human destinies“I am confident that not a single person, who is present in this hall, is intent on making a profit out of the present situation. It would be abominable to act like that,” noted the Belarusian head of state.

“Our nations have entrusted us, the presidents, with their destinies. What should we do in response to this trust? Are we to leave smoking ruins and razed homes instead of smoking chimneys of factories? Are we to doom our people to tears and suffering? It seems to me we had enough suffering in the past already. If we are to be considered responsible politicians, we should recognize the full weight of responsibility before our nations. We should forfeit political ambitions, seek no dividends, but think about the destinies of common people, the elderly, children, who cry and suffer, think about those, who have died,” stressed the Belarus President.

Archive
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
Great Patriotic War monuments in Belarus