MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) - Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko confirmed the country’s commitment to further cooperation with the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) as he met with DPR head Denis Pushilin in Minsk on 19 September, BelTA has learned.
“We have been cooperating for a long time. Belarus always cooperated with Donetsk Oblast as part of Ukraine. Amid current complicated, hard times even since that very moment (ten years have already passed), we have not abandoned this cooperation, and we are ready to continue it. Moreover, there are certain achievements, and a certain foundation has been laid,” the Belarusian leader said.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, there is a need to move away from all kinds of intermediaries in this cooperation and Belarus is ready to do so. “I was even surprised that we still have them. We are ready to cooperate with you directly,” he said.
“We will cooperate with you, without violating any international norms and norms of our relations. We work in the name of people. If you have issues in construction, we will support and help you. If you have issues in healthcare, education, we are ready to cooperate with you,” the Belarusian leader assured.
He added that the DPR can count on Belarus if it sees something in the country that can be used for the restoration and development of the region.
Denis Pushilin thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for comprehensive assistance, primarily of a humanitarian nature. “We have a lot of points of contact. This is not only a shared history, but also a vision of further development. It is only a strong, prosperous society based on justice. Our task is to build such conditions so that it would not be a shame to pass it on to the next generations. Thank you,” he said.