MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) – We do not divide Russia and Belarus by borders. We are united in a common cause, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast Anton Alikhanov on 13 November, BelTA informs.
“I hope we will continue developing our relations in this context because we are not strangers, we have a common homeland. We do not divide Russia and Belarus by borders. We are united in a common cause. And we call it the Union State,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The president paid special attention to certain issues of concern for Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast in particular and Russia in general. “The things that happen on the borders with Belarus reflect the situation on the border with Kaliningrad Oblast. We are facing the enhancement of the NATO. In economy and trade everyone pursues their own interests. I cannot say that they like you or us, Russia and Belarus, very much. Therefore, in spite of all the discussions of these issues, the attempts to make us pro-Western and so on, we realize that this is rhetoric. Concrete facts show that Belarusians and Russians should not count on anyone. We should protect our own interests and the interests of our people,” the head of state stressed.
“You can always count on Belarus. We will always support you in a difficult moment,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “You should know that Belarusians will always offer a helping hand to you because we are close people. I want you to understand the ideology of our relations this way.”
According to the president, Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast have maintained close relations since Soviet times. “Belarus has been a friend of Kaliningrad Oblast since Soviet times. We are very close, many Belarusian people worked and stayed there. In the mid-1990s I said that we will take care of Kaliningrad Oblast. Belarusians have always been taking care of it and will be doing so in the future.”
