KAZAN, 24 October (BelTA) - The collective West has launched a frenzied campaign to downplay the importance of BRICS, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia on 24 October, BelTA has learned.
"Some announced their plans to join BRICS and then put them on back burner. This, among other things, suggests that a frenzied campaign has been launched against BRICS. The United States of America, the collective West (they call themselves so) have launched a campaign to downplay the importance of BRICS. We know the examples. There is pressure. I will not name these countries, because this is classified information. They may say that this is not the case. But we know," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Moreover, these are the countries with which Russia and Belarus are on good terms. There is pressure: ‘If you are in BRICS, then we will not trade with you. We will not give you investments, loans; we will create difficulties and problems for you."
The head of state was asked about his idea of BRICS as “the community of the future”. "It is more wishful thinking than the actual reality as of today. I hesitated whether to say it or not. But as they say, hope dies last. I would very much like BRICS to have a future. As you understand, there are enough contradictions there. The countries are different, large, which have their own contradictions," the Belarusian leader added.
He lauded Russia for the successful chairmanship o in BRICS: "On time and very effectively. Russia has found itself in such a situation (so has Belarus) when whether you want or not but you have to take on the common issues that BRICS is concerned today.”
One of such topics is the creation of new payment and settlement systems alternative to Western ones in order be sanctions-proof. "We have to offer another settlement system. Some countries think that they will never face such situation. What if they will?" the Belarusian leader asked rhetorically. "Is the seizure of Russia's assets not a signal to anyone?"
"This is why I supported Russia in their proposals to address a number of specific issues. Did they get any support [in BRICS]? No. For various reasons. I have outlined some of them..." Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"Some announced their plans to join BRICS and then put them on back burner. This, among other things, suggests that a frenzied campaign has been launched against BRICS. The United States of America, the collective West (they call themselves so) have launched a campaign to downplay the importance of BRICS. We know the examples. There is pressure. I will not name these countries, because this is classified information. They may say that this is not the case. But we know," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Moreover, these are the countries with which Russia and Belarus are on good terms. There is pressure: ‘If you are in BRICS, then we will not trade with you. We will not give you investments, loans; we will create difficulties and problems for you."
The head of state was asked about his idea of BRICS as “the community of the future”. "It is more wishful thinking than the actual reality as of today. I hesitated whether to say it or not. But as they say, hope dies last. I would very much like BRICS to have a future. As you understand, there are enough contradictions there. The countries are different, large, which have their own contradictions," the Belarusian leader added.
He lauded Russia for the successful chairmanship o in BRICS: "On time and very effectively. Russia has found itself in such a situation (so has Belarus) when whether you want or not but you have to take on the common issues that BRICS is concerned today.”
One of such topics is the creation of new payment and settlement systems alternative to Western ones in order be sanctions-proof. "We have to offer another settlement system. Some countries think that they will never face such situation. What if they will?" the Belarusian leader asked rhetorically. "Is the seizure of Russia's assets not a signal to anyone?"
"This is why I supported Russia in their proposals to address a number of specific issues. Did they get any support [in BRICS]? No. For various reasons. I have outlined some of them..." Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
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