Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed several pressing international issues during an awards ceremony in Minsk. His most striking remarks concerned the situation around Venezuela, specifically the forced extradition of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to the USA, as well as the future course of events. BelTA brings together all the Belarusian leader’s remarks on the matter.
Speaking about Venezuela, the president emphasized that the friendly people of that country once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Belarus. “If someone has forgotten, I have not. And to some extent, I would not say they saved our country but they strongly supported us. In the time of [former Venezuela President Hugo] Chavez, when they worked together with Nicolas Maduro. I visited there often, knew them both,” the head of state said.
On the causes and consequences of the U.S. operation
“A short while ago I said that if the Americans wanted a second Vietnam, they would get it. However the situation develops, I believe they heard this. And now they are threatening Venezuela with some kind of ground operation. I think they fully understand that such an operation will not end in their favor. Thousands will die, including Americans. I believe neither Donald nor others want this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“But you must clearly understand: the USA is a very complicated country. It is not like ours, not even like Russia or other countries. I think this is most likely a concession by Donald Trump to the military. Remember how they fled from Afghanistan, how people were clinging to the landing gear of airplanes, falling on the runway? A disgrace. They needed to show that they are capable of something,” the Belarusian leader said.
“But they [USA] have gotten themselves into a very nasty situation again. It’s all connected again.
I have always warned you about this. Before taking any step, before doing anything, you need to think and answer one question: what happens next? What do we do now? Yes, it’s disgraceful, despicable. The world has had a negative reaction. Some reacted softly, but overall, there is a universal dissatisfaction and negative reaction to what had happened. Everyone will draw conclusions from this. Everyone understands what’s going on in the world. And everyone will be thinking about how to defend their own country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
On the courageous act by Maduro’s wife and American 'justice'
The Belarusian president shared information that Cilia Flores, the wife of Nicolas Maduro, was initially offered the chance to remain in Venezuela, but she chose to share the fate of her beloved.
“It’s important to note that they captured the president, but told his wife: ‘You may stay. We have no claims against you.’ “No, I am with him,” Flores said. I know she is a very courageous woman. “I am with my beloved,” she said. So they brought her to the USA and they have brought up drug trafficking charges against her,” the head of state said.
“So much for the justice they’ve been teaching us our whole lives. Had enough? They’ve never had, don’t have, and never will have any truth or justice,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
On the U.S.’s true aims and missed opportunities
“I’m only grateful to Donald for talking openly about oil: ‘We need oil.’ It pains me to say this, as I was, to some extent, drawn into this situation from the very beginning. I even informed the Americans that the Venezuelans were ready to cooperate with them. Don’t make these foolish mistakes. It will be very difficult to get out of them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“We will see what their justice is. I would say, he [Nicolas Maduro] has got decent judges and lawyers,” the president said.
He spoke about his direct involvement in contacts between the United States and Venezuela prior to the events involving the capture of the Venezuelan head of state. “I relayed all the messages from Nicolás Maduro. You saw my meeting with the Ambassador of Venezuela to the Russian Federation. He is Maduro's supporter, his comrade-in-arms. They have always worked together. I also know him well. He was a military man under Chávez [former Venezuela president Hugo Chavez].
"The United States could have achieved their goals in Venezuela without capture," the Belarusian leader said.
“Yet they needed to put their ‘heroism’ on display. On whom did they decide to demonstrate it? On a defenseless man? They killed all the people guarding him. They wounded his wife and the man, captured him, and took him to the USA. That’s ‘great heroism’ indeed,” the president added.
On collusion and betrayal inside Venezuela
“I want you to understand: everything was there. There was a collusion, and money that was paid to people in Venezuela, including both military and civilians. There was a conspiracy, and there was betrayal. Everything was there,” the Belarusian leader stated.
That’s why we must be as cautious,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
On theatrics on the part of the United States, Russian tanker
The president recalled that, while negotiating with the Americans, he warned not only Belarusians but also Russians that it might just the theatrics on the part of the United States.
“I always talked about it. I also warned my elder brother [Russian President Vladimir Putin]. I spoke about it directly prior to this vile event [U.S. foray into Venezuela]. I was wary it was just the theatrics on the part of the Americans and the entire West. I was afraid they would try to play us once again. And today, I am absolutely convinced that this is the case. Why did they need to seize, just recently an empty Russian tanker flying the Russian flag? Why do they have to do this if they claim to want peace in Ukraine? Many thoughts arise after these events.,” the head of state noted.
Impossibility of ‘Venezuela scenario’ in Belarus
Aleksandr Lukashenko continued: “You remember last year’s meeting of the Belarusian Security Council. Where we assigned roles for the scenario of ‘what if there is no president.’ Listen, we saw it coming. That’s why a ‘Venezuela scenario’ in Belarus is unrealistic. Even if it were to happen, we have everything provided for such a case.”
“To prevent this from happening, we, the elite of society, must first and foremost, while leading the way, see and know our place. Everyone, in their own place, must do their maximum. Everyone. No matter how much dictatorship or authoritarianism we may have, you cannot force every single person to do this. And that is precisely why we are fated to be at the forefront in this mad, turbulent world. Once we accept that, success is guaranteed,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
On gratitude to Belarusian servicemen guarding the borders of the Motherland
The president regretfully noted that the current global situation forces the country to spend significant resources on its defense capabilities: “We have been convinced once again that we must be strong. We are increasingly forced to spend money on weapons and on training our military.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked the military for their everyday service. “Today we are gathered here in a relatively warm, comfortable place, rejoicing. But their job, men in uniform, is to defend the homeland. But today they are at the border. Not only border guards. They are also near the border. Dispersed as they should be. And they defend our homeland. Let us thank them for their service in the name of peace,” the head of state said.
The hall of the Palace of the Republic, that hosted the awards ceremony, greeted the head of state's words with a standing ovation and prolonged applause.
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