MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – Ukraine should be afraid of Belarusians least of all. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a meeting with representatives of the general public, experts, and mass media titled as the Big Conversation with the President on 9 August, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Belarusians are the people you should be afraid of least of all. We will never do bad things to Ukraine if you don't come into our land bearing weapons first. Ukrainians are hardworking and beautiful people. We are ready to talk to you. We are ready to come to terms with you.”
The head of state also pointed out that Belarusian sanatoriums operate in Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Russia. “I've invested money in them so that local people and our people would go there. We have a huge number of tourists,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You've shut down flights to Odessa. Whose interests were damaged by it? Our aircraft now fly to Russia's Krasnodar Territory and Turkey. [The flag carrier] Belavia has to make a slight detour. We didn't shut down air service between Belarus and Turkey although we could have denied landings to aircraft going via Ukraine. But they keep flying. How are we supposed to let people fly to vacation destinations? Russia is the only way for us. Poland has also forbidden our flights. This is why don't set conditions for me. You've done everything and you've paved the way for me to Crimea.”
