MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) – Sovereignty is a sacred thing for Belarus. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he met with representatives of the Russian mass media community on 14 December, BelTA has learned.
The head of state reminded that in the past he came up with multiple proposals regarding the development of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, however, not all of them were well-received by the Russian side. Now Russia once again raises these issues but in broad strokes while mixing up politics and economy. “What for? Why now all of a sudden? What would Russia want to accomplish? What does Russia offer?” wondered Alexander Lukashenko.
“I want you to remember that sovereignty is a sacred thing for us. I've talked about it already. It is comparative independence. I don't think there are any truly independent countries. And you [Russia] are not that independent, but sovereign,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “If you want to split Belarus into oblasts and merge with Russia just like [the Russian MP Vladimir] Zhirinovsky suggests, it will never happen. If Russian leadership thinks like that, it is detrimental to Russia.”
Asked to clarify whether he felt some threat to Belarus' sovereignty, Alexander Lukashenko noted there are always threats from one side or another. “But I am the president and it is my job to secure the country's sovereignty according to the Constitution,” said the head of state. In his words, he feels a larger threat from the southern border, from where weapons are now smuggled. The fact is a problem and a danger.
