MINSK
\nBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has declared that his country will never become Russia\u2019s enemy.
\n\u201cYes, we are with Russia. As a sovereign and independent state,\u201d he stressed at a meeting on the issues of Belarusian-Russian cooperation on Friday. The Belarusian leader noted that not a single Union State program infringes on Belarusian sovereignty and independence. He also emphasized that Belarus \u201cwill never be an enemy to Russia,\u201d the BelTA news agency quoted him as saying.
\nLukashenko noted that now that some time has passed since the 2020 coup attempt in Belarus, the correctness of a course toward rapprochement with Russia and the timely nature of relevant measures, including the approval of a package of integration documents within the framework of the Union State can be confirmed.
\n\u201cI see that now the situation is being ramped up. Especially following these major talks (the December 19 talks between Lukashenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Minsk – TASS) everybody will say that that\u2019s it: there is no power in Belarus, here Russians are walking everywhere and rule the country,\u201d he said. \u201cI would like to stress this specific thing: nobody but us is ruling Belarus. These are our functions under the constitution and mine as well,\u201d the Belarusian leader added.
\nAccording to Lukashenko, an opinion exists that Russia sets unacceptable conditions for Minsk related to independence and sovereignty. \u201cI am saying this absolutely sincerely: with all the difficulties, if the Russian Federation – the leadership – wants to build relations with the sovereign independent state of Belarus, if Russia perceives us as a sovereign and independent state but a very close one, very reliable, where everything Russian – from the language to Russian traditions – is venerated, we are ready to build the relations. Yet we should always proceed from the premise that we are a sovereign and independent state,\u201d he asserted.
\nThe Belarusian president underscored the importance of preserving friendly and allied relations with Russia. \u201cWe will never be Russia\u2019s enemy. And will never give Russia the cold shoulder. This is the closest country to us, our closest peoples,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think that while we are in power, we will adhere to this trend. Had it been otherwise, it would have been like in Ukraine,\u201d Lukashenko concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINSK Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has declared that his country will never become Russia\u2019s enemy. \u201cYes, we are with Russia. As a sovereign and independent state,\u201d he stressed at a meeting on the issues of Belarusian-Russian cooperation on Friday. The Belarusian leader noted that not a single Union State program infringes on Belarusian sovereignty and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":301697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-301682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n