OSTROVETS DISTRICT, 7 November (BelTA) – We call on Lithuania and Poland to stop the confrontational rhetoric and return to dialogue, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he talked with the staff and builders of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA has learned.
"I want to address [the Lithuanian leadership] once again from this site - the Belarusian nuclear power plant: let's live peacefully. Let's work together. We were once part of one and the same state, lived normally then and afterwards. But they decided to interfere n our affairs. Well, if they realize they made a mistake, then they should stop meddling. Let's work together: you will mind your affairs, we ours. Let's produce electricity, sell it, exchange electricity," the Belarusian leader said. "Let's live peacefully! We're neighbors and we do not get to choose neighbors."
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus had issued no complaints when the Ignalina nuclear power plant was in operation in Lithuania. Moreover, after its closure, the country invited Lithuanian specialists to work at the Belarusian NPP. However, under the external pressure, Lithuania began to strongly oppose the construction of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets. “The European Union encouraged Lithuania to criticize it, to sound all kinds of alarms". Why are they doing it? Because we are competitors today, competitors to Western countries. They do not need this plant, they do not need peaceful Belarus,” the president said.
“You have probably already understood what they want after two months of unrests in Minsk. We can see that there are five times more ‘governments' for Belarus set up abroad than we have power units here. They are ‘managing' us from there. I often warn them as we will respond and our response will be harsh,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus built the nuclear power plant in accordance with the decision taken in the national interests and emphasized that the plant is safe, which was also confirmed by international experts.
"I want to address Poland too. You will not succeed. You will not see us on our knees. We will respond. I have already said: even if we are left alone surrounded, we will fight back. I think they understood that," the president added. "Let's work together, we are ready to cooperate openly."
