22 November 2021, 17:31

Lukashenko: Belarus will go on despite West's sanctions

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – Belarus will live on despite the sanctions of the West, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with BBC, BelTA has learned.

“The whole world has seen your face. And you have seen it too on this border [the refugee crisis on the border of Belarus and the European Union]. We will find partners and allies other than Great Britain. We have not really cooperated with you before anyway. We will not die, we will live on. And our life will be better every new day, because there are countries we cooperate with. Huge countries. And we will sell what we need to sell, despite your sanctions,” the president said.

Along with this, he noted that neither side needs sanctions: “I am not an idiot, of course. And I understand that neither you, nor even more so I need these sanctions. Yet, if you started using the language of sanctions with me and refused to recognize my legitimacy, well, the Lord is with you. I say it again: I have already got used to it over a quarter of a century.”

Lukashenko tells BBC new details of negotiations with Merkel

During the conversation Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed out there are many kids among the refugees. “I know you can see it. Take them. And about 5,000 will stay with me. I will work on sending them to Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan where they came from,” the head of state shared the details.

Lukashenko: I couldn't care less about what they think of me in England, USA or EU

"It was not the EU that elected me. You have not recognized me as the president for a quarter of a century. The Belarusian people elect me. So for me it is important how I am seen by my own people," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko: Why do I have to stop the people travelling to the UK or Germany?

The head of state reminded that Belarus and the European Union signed a readmission agreement in 2020. The sides had been working towards signing the agreement for a long time, a great deal of work had been done.

Lukashenko: Migrants filed no requests to stay in Belarus

“We have not received a single request to stay in Belarus so far. If we get some, then in accordance with the law and very quickly, as opposed to you, we will process these requests,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko responds to BBC journalist's question about elections, protests in Belarus

The BBC journalist asked the Belarusian head of state whether he believes that more than 80% of people voted for him and if yes why large crowds, 200,000 people in his words, came out on to the streets to protest.

Lukashenko about last year's events in Belarus: A brawl instigated by the West

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Western reporters constantly ask about people, who were hurt during protests, but never talk about injuries sustained by law enforcement personnel.

Lukashenko: There will be no dialogue and no negotiations with traitors

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “Vladimir Putin did not advise me anything. I talked to him for over an hour [over the phone on 19 November]. I heard no advice from his side about any matters.”

Lukashenko debunks West's fake news about Belarus

“I am not the kind of person who exacts revenge. Remember this if you want to understand me as a person. I don't fight women, I say it often. I'm not a man of revenge, because I grew up in such conditions and I understand what revenge is. Therefore, do not attribute this to me and do not say words if you do not understand the situation that is happening here,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Lukashenko: The matter of one president in the Belarus-Russia Union State is not on the agenda

The BBC reporter asked Aleksandr Lukashenko about integration with Russia and the possible emergence of the post of the president of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.