MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Igor Karpenko told the ONT TV channel what Poland could learn from Belarus, BelTA has learned.
“Over 30 years of sovereign development we have never told Poland how it should live. We have never said anything. Even if we had a different opinion about their elections, we did not make any statements, any uncomplimentary remarks. Even if things were quite complicated there. We did not create a division of people on the basis of nationality. I mean the Pole’s Card. Why was it necessary to introduce it for Belarus? We haven't introduced the Belarusian’s Card,” Igor Karpenko said. “I always adhere to the principle that the Belarusian people are multinational. After all, our country is home to 150 nations and nationalities. We can see how the situation in other countries can be undermined because of national and religious issues.”
Neighbors should cooperate, but no one has the right to tell the other how to live. “We are neighbors, and there is nothing we can do about it. Building relations depends on Poland today. Even in the recent press conference on the election day the president said that we were ready for any negotiations. We are ready to discuss any issues, including the most complex, problematic ones. But we will certainly do nothing under somebody’s orders,” the CEC head said. “We certainly do not feel that we are some delinquent school student, whom someone from Poland, Brussels or Washington should reprimand.”
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