Opinions & Interviews

Belarus wants more progress in fulfilling agreements in integration projects
Top on the agenda in Belarus is cooperation with Russia within the framework of the Union State...

FM says Belarus ready to sign key documents with EU, urges some action
Speaking about the visa facilitation agreement Vladimir Makei noted that Belarus is ready to sign the document. However, the EU partners tie this agreement with the one on readmission...

Lukashenko: Ice in Belarus-EU relations has not melted away
Alexander Lukashenko called the signing of the Partnership Priorities Agreement and the readmission and visa facilitation agreement with the EU among the overriding goals in cooperation with the European Union...

Belarus’ foreign policy needs balance between west, east
"We need to actively promote the idea of integration of integrations in order to ease the bloc confrontation. The unique position at the crossroads of the EAEU and the EU should bring benefits to Belarus"...

Lukashenko in favor of mutually respectful relations with NATO
In his words, neither Belarus nor its neighbors need dividing lines. "Therefore, it is necessary to establish mutually respectful relations with NATO which would eventually enhance the security of our country. We must talk to them"...

Lukashenko: Eurasian integration is going backwards
"Many economic matters were transferred from the Union State agenda to the EAEU. Unfortunately, Eurasian integration is turning or has already turned back"...

Lukashenko: Belarus-Russia Union State project relies on equal conditions
"And the main principle of this project is the creation of equal conditions for our compatriots and economic operators. The principle of equal conditions should be strictly fulfilled. The postulate of sovereignty also remains unshakeable for Belarus"...

Belarus expects balance of interests in EBRD's deal on Belinvestbank
"Together with EBRD specialists we are now actively taking care of pre-privatization support for financial sector organizations and real economy ones. The largest and most significant project"...

Belarus among ten biggest recipients of EBRD investment
"Since my first meeting with the Belarusian president in 2015, our investment in the Belarusian economy has increased considerably. Last year the investment hit a record high $400 million"...

Belarus described as good place to resolve conflict in Ukraine
“My attitude to Ukraine is that it is our Slavonic country. It is in trouble. We need to resolve this problem. I tell every Russian leader: don’t flatter yourself that you are big and will win. If Americans deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in Ukraine, you will be in trouble”...

Belarus president in favor of step-by-step approach to Helsinki 2 initiative
“It is time when we should convene Helsinki 2 somewhere and talk seriously at least at the level of OSCE heads of state [the last meeting of the OSCE heads of state took place in Astana in 2010, the previous one in Istanbul in 1999]. We cannot dash ahead. We have to do it step by step”...

Lukashenko pledges unprecedented support for families
“We will take decisions soon. They should be unprecedented. The most important thing is housing. If a family giving birth to a third child gets an apartment from the state virtually for free, it will be a great incentive for them to have more children”...

Lukashenko in favor of new Constitution
“I swear that this Constitution will not be forced. This will not happen. Everything will be absolutely fair because no one else is more interested in things going well in the future, and I do not want people to blame me. I want the Constitution to conform to those realities that we will have in our country in the future”...

Belarus president in favor of supporting native language
“The Belarusian language is my native language for me. Just like the Russian language. The Russian language is also our language,” Alexander Lukashenko remarked...

Lukashenko speaks about role of personal relations in politics
"It takes just one phone call by Ilham [President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev] or my phone call to him to resolve all kinds of issues. This is to illustrate what personal relations between national leaders are about and what impact they have on interstate relations"...

China described as reliable and supportive partner for Belarus
The president added that some time ago Belarus was strongly dependent on the Russian market, now we have a formula of an export oriented country (30x30x30) thanks to China and other countries...

Lukashenko: Belarus needs a national idea the entire country will support
"Everything I’ve been offered [patriotism, sovereignty, independence as the national idea] was something too worn out, something that doesn’t fit us, doesn’t rub us the right way as people say"...

Lukashenko: Belarus has done a lot to increase people’s earning power
“It is hard to find another such country that granted so many freedoms to entrepreneurs. You can get your business registered and start working within a day. There have been no complaints of red tape yet”...

Lukashenko: Belarus and Russia need to be together
"I always said in Russia and here that our fate is to live together. When looking at people around, I can see what policies they pursue. It is the same, in relation to Russia, and in relation to Belarus. Only forms differ. Therefore, we need to be together"...

Lukashenko: Russia has no intention to absorb Belarus
"If we put the question about the unification of the two states or, like many want in Russia, about the inclusion of Belarus into Russia to a referendum, 90% will vote against"...