Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko talks about questions in contacts with USA, conditions for meeting with Trump

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BARANOVICHI DISTRICT, 11 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has revealed to reporters a number of questions in contacts with the United States of America and conditions for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We are open. They have lifted sanctions from a number of our enterprises. They are ready to keep lifting them. There is a bunch of questions. Embassies? Let’s discuss how we will resume [full-fledged operation of the embassies]. Nuclear materials and the rest? We have an entire program. Let’s do it. If you want to buy fertilizers from us, if you want them, feel free to buy them.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “I’ve said sincerely that I am a Trumpist, I supported Trump. I see his errors. I talk about it directly to his best friend, who is supposed to visit us.”

The president also mentioned the Board of Peace for Gaza and confirmed he is ready to work in this format, too. “Okay. Let’s do it together. Only we don’t want to play along as a piece of scenery. It won’t work for me. I am telling them plainly that I am not ready to meet with Donald Trump for that.”

“In order to meet with him (it is good, it would be very useful for Belarus), we have to understand what we are going to do after the meeting. Say hello and part our ways?” Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered.

Speaking about the previously debated big deal between Belarus and the USA, the president confirmed that it is still relevant. “We are ready both for the small deal and the big deal,” he stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that the initial contacts with the USA had been deadlocked onto so-called political prisoners. And Belarus also made steps to meet the USA halfway. “May the Lord be with you, take them. Everyone was worrying that Tikhanovsky had been released! And where is Sergei? They cannot find him. Nobody needs him,” the president noted.

Getting back to the matter of shipments of potash fertilizers, the head of state said that a ship is being loaded right now and will leave for the USA. However, Belarus cannot deliver a lot right away. “After all, we have contracts [for deliveries to other countries] for this year. We will consider shipping next year. Now we have an opportunity to load the ship. We will finish loading it tomorrow for sure. Take them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “But give us what you owe. As much as $43-44 million of our money is stuck in Citibank. A company that was cooperating with us made the payment. The money is stuck in rich America. Please, return this money to us,” the president said. “The government sent me a written report. Return the money! It is a disgrace for the USA, after all. And then we are going to negotiate more serious things with you.”

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