Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarus will not stand aside from Afghanistan issue

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MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – Belarus has not stood aside and will not stand aside from the Afghanistan issue, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov on 8 September, BelTA has learned.

“Our meeting is timely. I am currently gathering information. This year I will attend two important events, I can say, even landmark events. Tomorrow I will meet with the Russian president. It is clear that we will discuss the situation in our Eurasian Economic Union, and especially the situation connected with Afghanistan, the impact of the Afghanistan factor on Central Asia, Russia. Obviously, the Belarusians have not stood aside and will not stand aside from it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

The president stressed that the Belarusian side will be committed to the CSTO’s course on Afghanistan. “Russia and you know better what is going on there. Let’s be honest, you are more affected by the events in the Middle East, in Central Asia, Southern Asia. You are affected by those problems because the country is huge and all eyes are on it. We can see it in Belarus: it is not always easy for us to live in the center of Europe. Therefore, such meetings are very important,” the head of state said.

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