MINSK, 31 May (BelTA) – It is important to remain humane and not think only about money and goods, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov once. That meeting took place in October 2013. Kiev was getting ready to sign an association agreement with the European Union, but after a while suspended preparations for its signing. This served as a trigger for a coup d'état. In the new episode of BelTA’s YouTube project “How It Was”, we recall the most significant events of 2013 to learn what Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikolai Azarov talked about shortly before the Maidan, what the geography of the Belarusian leader's international visits was, how BelAZ made itself known across the world, and many more.
October 2013. Ukraine is getting ready to join the “European family”. The text of the association agreement is ready. It only needs to be signed. Against the backdrop of these events, the Ukrainian prime minister visits Minsk. Ukraine's cooperation with the European Union became one of the key topics of conversation between Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikolai Azarov. Our president immediately made it clear that there were no problems with this step. The main thing for Ukraine was to continue cooperation with the Single Economic Space and the Customs Union.
Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Nikolai Azarov, October 2013
“We are representatives of two kin Slavic nations, bound by centuries-old friendship. Neighbors cannot be chosen, and our task is to learn to live as good neighbors. I believe this is the foundation of our cooperation,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Some may say this is more emotional than pragmatic. But the world has lately become too pragmatic, with wars and conflicts breaking out here and there. We need to remain humane and not think only about money and goods.”
Now, almost 12 years later, it is clear where pure pragmatism can lead. As a result, a conflict broke out right at our borders, and the kin Slavic people of Ukraine were turned against the Russians and Belarusians.
The talks with Nikolai Azarov were not the only ones on Aleksandr Lukashenko's international agenda back then. In 2013, the Belarusian leader went on a tour of Southeast Asia, visiting Indonesia and Singapore. The president continues to pursue a course of cooperation with this region today. Recent meetings with the leaders of Vietnam and Myanmar testify to the fact.
Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta, March 2013
Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Tony Tan Keng Yam in Singapore, March 2013
Our industrial giant BelAZ made itself known around the globe by making the world’s largest haul truck in 2013. Its declared load capacity was 450 tonnes, but a year later, BelAZ transported a 503.5t load across a test site. Aleksandr Lukashenko had a test drive of the truck.
450t haul truck, September 2013
Of course, these are far from all the interesting and memorable events of 2013. Find out more in the new episode of our YouTube project “How it Was: DOC”.
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