MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) - There is a fight between global powers to draw Belarus into their orbit of influence, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he spoke at 6th Belarusian People's Congress on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
“It is no accident that Belarus has been caught in the focus of attention of major international players. In fact, our country today is, if you like, the last truly sovereign state in Europe. Maybe that is the reason why we suffer. This is the main issue. There is a fight around us,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
According to the president, one should not think that the ‘Belarusian issue' is not important for the global geopolitical players. There is a fight between global powers to draw Belarus into their orbit of influence. “Today Belarus is the dominant height on the battlefield in the center of Europe. There is a fierce fight for this height. It has always been so in our centuries-old history,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus views no country as its enemy, condemns any military conflict and consistently advocates a peaceful settlement of disputes. “Despite all the unfriendly steps of certain foreign forces, I am convinced that the path of confrontation in foreign policy is a dead end. We are always ready to build up relations with all the countries and alliances on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and non-interference into our internal affairs. We are also interested in a balanced variety of relationships, first of all economic ones, with all the countries,” he said.
This is the essence of the Belarusian multi-pronged concept, which raises a lot of questions, even in Russia, the head of state said. “We should not be criticized for this. Ultimately we are aiming at diversification of international, first of all economic, ties and are seeking balance in the regional security. We want to maintain our political stability. This way, of course, may not please someone. This is, however, the way any state pursues if it wants to remain sovereign and independent on the world map. We are no exception,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
