MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) – Belarus cherishes no illusions about resuming the dialogue with Poland any time soon. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement in an interview with the Russian magazine Razvedchik [Spy], BelTA has learned.
The head of state was asked whether Belarus expects any changes in relations with Poland after the election of the new Poland President Karol Nawrocki.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Honestly speaking, we cherish no illusions about resuming the dialogue any time soon. On the one hand, one of the slogans used by Mr. Nawrocki during the election campaign was ‘Poland above all’. In his pre-election speeches he repeatedly stated that the protection of the Polish nation is one of the goals of his presidency. We understand that it was convenient to score points with this topic during the election race. But we know that the Polish nation wants to advance relations with our country. Poles and Belarusians are not enemies to each other. On the other hand, Warsaw continues making unwarranted claims and accusations with regard to Belarus. It has also sheltered and provides political and informational support to our fugitives, using them for its own goals.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to continuing attempts to rewrite, replay history, to match its interpretation to the current political situation. “We also know well what role the incumbent president of Poland played (in his capacity of the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance) in the dismantling of monuments to the Soviet warriors, who died to liberate Poland from the Nazi invaders,” the president remarked. “Think about it: 600,000 Soviet warriors, including quite many Belarusians, died fighting for Poland and remain forever in Polish soil! And which politicians over there remember it these days? What answers do they give us today? Threats, sanctions, militarization, Bypol, Bysol [organizations financed by the West and working against the Belarusian government], and other diversions.”
Karol Nawrocki is also known to be an ardent supporter of NATO and a union with the USA. It is unlikely he will abandon his convictions. “This is why one cannot expect that things will be like there were in the past. But we still hope that political wisdom and common sense will prevail among Polish colleagues,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We hope that on the other side of the border we will be heard, that they will objectively evaluate the situation in Belarus and will stop interfering in our internal affairs. We are open to dialogue. In modern conditions it is important to find ways to resolve problems instead of creating new ones. We should build bridges instead of walls. I cannot say the same about the neighbors.”
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