MINSK, 6 July (BelTA) – It is necessary to prevent the sanctions from hurting the Belarusian people. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the government conference held on 6 July to discuss ways to counter the sanctions that had been enforced against Belarus, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We don't want the Belarusian people to be hurt. It is the key thing for us. It is the government's job to come up with effective measures to compensate for the losses and preserve jobs.” The president said he wanted a report on how Belarusian enterprises will be protected, how import substitution will be organized, and how domestic demand will be stimulated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that sales of Belarusian products in Europe had never been large, particularly sales of the products made by the enterprises the sanctions target: BelAZ, MAZ, and so on. “We imported some components from Europe. Are these components made only in the European Union? No. They are also made in the former Soviet Union, in the People's Republic of China, and other countries. We just have to find new suppliers,” he believes.
Talking about individual European companies that sell their products on the Belarusian market, Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that sales of products made by individual companies had already been restricted in Belarus in the past.
Aleksandr Lukashenko continued: “We know who in the USA, Germany, and other countries, particularly European ones, spoke against shipping parts and main components to Belarusian enterprises. We know them. We have the experience. Do you remember Skoda, Nivea, and so on? We told them: guys, thanks, see you later. First, we need to stop their sales in Belarus. Second, we need to stop the shipment of their goods via Belarus. The same measures should be applied to Germans. Let them ship their products via Finland to China and Russia. Or via Ukraine (there are good roads over there). May they go and sell their products there.”
“In other words, we need to take every measure to make them feel what Belarus is. I want them to think before using economic weapons,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
“The government and the National Bank should take a close look at the Western companies doing business in Belarus. Those, who show a responsible attitude and understand us, are free to cooperate with us. But if someone fails to understand us and has started a fight against the Belarusian state, you know how they should be dealt with,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
