MINSK, 4 November (BelTA) – At a session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia on 4 November Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko regretted the fact that his Russian counterpart, who was in Sevastopol on that day, had not invited him to come to Crimea, BelTA has learned.
Summing up results of the Supreme State Council session, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he and the Russian president would still find time to discuss some aspects of Union State construction. “In conclusion I would like to complain to members of the Supreme State Council. Ukraine has closed the sky for Belarus and we cannot get to Crimea via Ukraine in any way. While we have properties and some other problems over there. And Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] had been promising me all the time that he would take me to Crimea, show new things, what new things have been done over there. And a lot has been done. He promised he would take me to Crimea along the way. But today he went there alone and didn't invite me to come along. This is why I present my complaint before members of the Supreme State Council,” the Belarus president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested visiting St Petersburg – the city Vladimir Putin grew up in – instead of Crimea and look at what is being done over there.
“In turn, I invite you to come to my motherland (you know this place) and to Minsk at any convenient opportunity,” the Belarus president said.
“I've said it to reduce tensions. But this joke is only partially a joke. All of it is true,” the Belarusian leader added.
Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted he would like to see a monument that had been erected in Sevastopol recently. It is dedicated to all the people, who fought during the Civil War in 1918-1920. The memorial stands on the shore of Karantinnaya Bay. “A surprising wonder. I am a historian and I didn't know it. Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] told me the story of two twin brothers. One fought in the White Army and the other one fought in the Red Army,” the president noted. “It is an important monument. I'd like to see this monument and know this story.”
Vladimir Putin remarked that on that day he indeed participated in the Supreme State Council session while in Sevastopol to mark Russia's National Unity Day. “The monument is very good. I recommend seeing it. And the story is certainly very gripping,” he said.
The Russian leader noted that they would always be glad to see the Belarus president so that he could personally take a look at this monument.
