MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – The matter of one president in the Union State of Belarus and Russia is not on the agenda. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement in an interview with the BBC on 19 November, BelTA has learned.
The BBC reporter asked Aleksandr Lukashenko about integration with Russia and the possible emergence of the post of the president of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that many years ago Belarus and Russia set out to advance integration and build the single Union State. “You do it with America while I do it with Russia. What's the problem? You have more than the Union State. Americans told you to exit the European Union (Trump did) and you did.”
The president explained the meaning of the word “union” in this context – it means the development of relations between two sovereign, independent states. “When you build a union with Americans, it does not mean you will lose the queen and the parliament. Same with us. As we set out to establish our union in the mid-1990s with [Russia President Boris] Yeltsin, we clearly determined that the union will consist of two countries – Belarus and Russia. And it will be stronger than a unitary state,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
“As for the matter of one president or two presidents… I swear we've never discussed this matter with Putin. Never. Because such a matter is not on the agenda,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
