Belarus maintains friendly, kind, warm, brotherly relations with all former Soviet republics, whether Asian or European states. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in his interview to Chinese media. "Belarus, while building its policy in the middle of Europe, should not interfere with other nations affairs," the Belarusian leader said.
The president added: «We must build relationships so that our neighbors could feel comfortable. Neighbors are chosen by God, not by us.»
«Our geographical position between East and West has a great advantage, but it also provides many challenges. The advantage is in the busiest location we are situated — Belarus is impossible to bypass: both from the East to the West and from the West to the East, people and the goods cross the country. This is our advantage. We are talking about it openly,» Alexander Lukashenko said.
According to the president, «such an important strategic position between the East and the West, creates some problems as well- every war is rolled here, via Belarus, causing us great damage.»
«The fact that we occupy a favorable geographical position, draws attention of many nations, especially in the East and the West. All interests are concentrated here. And the clash of large states interests has always made the Belarusian people suffer. In this regard our geographical position is inconvenience, if I may say so, the head of state noted.
We Can’t but Build Good Relationships, Lukashenko
«But maybe now, we can take an advantage of our position in the heart of Europe. Our foreign policy is multidirectional. It can not be the other way- the central state can not be guided either to the north, west or east only. It’s impossible!» There must be a multi-vector policy in different directions. Therefore, we have traditionally been supporting and striving to maintain good relations with the Russian state and its people, as we are actually one nation. This is in the first turn,» Alexander Lukashenko said.
«Secondly, we are among the integration leaders in the Commonwealth of Independent States. We sent our policy for the former Soviet Union integration. We do not support the slogan of separation of peoples and nations after the collapse of the Soviet Union,» President of Belarus underlined.
Thirdly, according to the Belarusian leader, «we are bound by a very close relationship with neighboring countries — the Baltic States, Poland and the Ukraine and this is our priority. And I have already talked about Russia — here our international relations play a special role.»
«CIS and Russia foreign trade is about half of our turnover. The second half belongs to the other countries, including the European Union. Thus we can’t but build good relationships. That is why we agreed to create an alliance with the Russian Federation and worked out a draft of the Union State,» the head of state said.
Russia and Belarus are mutually dependent, Lukashenko
The Belarusian leader noted that «Belarus is a little slowed down here due to the well-known reasons, but I think it’s surmountable.» «We should not demonstrate and exaggerate it. We will establish relations with Russia, we find the way. Russia and Belarus are mutually dependent. Belarus will have difficulties without Russia and so will the Russian state. What for? We should have normal relationships. Therefore, all these disagreements will become the thing of the past,» Alexander Lukashenko said.
In addition, the president of Belarus affected relations with the Ukraine. According to the Belarusian leader, these relationships are very dynamic. «We have very good relations between nations, as well as with the leadership of the Ukraine. We are very friendly with the Ukrainian president. We have good prospects and the turnover dynamics is proving it,» Alexander Lukashenko said.
«We are also on good terms with the Baltic States, the dynamics is very high as well, which is a good tendency — in politics, diplomacy, because they belong to the European Union, where Belarus wants to establish better relations,» the President of Belarus stated.
«Similar situation is with America. We try to contact with the Americans, looking for the ways of improving relations, but they aren’t as rosy as they could be,» the head of state added.
In conclusion, Alexander Lukashenko said: «We would be happy to have such relations with other states, as with China, and well-being of our citizens would be substantial in this case.»
