Belarus president says he will never surrender his country's sovereignty
25.12.2019,
10:55
Russia is seeking a forced merger with Belarus, but our country's independence is ensured by a balance of forces with Western countries and NATO, Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with the radio station Ekho Moskvy, RBC reported.
YEREVAN, December 25. /ARKA/. Russia is seeking a forced merger with Belarus, but our country's independence is ensured by a balance of forces with Western countries and NATO, Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with the radio station Ekho Moskvy, RBC reported.
In his words, the West would see a forceful attempt to join the two countries as a threat and will stand up to Russia.
“The West and NATO won’t tolerate that because they would see it as a threat to themselves. In that sense, they would be right,' he was quoted as saying.
However, he noted that Belarus will not stand aside in the event of a conflict between Russia and other countries. According to Lukashenko, in recent talks with President Vladimir Putin, he recalled that Belarus would be ready to side with Russia in the event of a threat from the West.
“I said this at our latest meeting. I said that we are Russia's outpost. I asked the president Vladimir Putin the question: do you really think we will let tanks go towards Moscow should they decide to invade. Of course I am speaking figuratively here. They do not use tanks for warfare today. They do not start with tanks, tanks are used later”, the Belarusian leader said. “But should anyone want to get into some fighting with Russia, we will not stay away”, Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.
Speaking about the situation in Ukraine, Lukashenko noted that the main threat to Russia is not the country's accession to NATO, but the rise of nationalists to power in Kiev.
Lukashenko and Putin had two rounds of talks this month but failed to reach agreement on a deeper integration. The negotiations triggered opposition rallies in the Belarusian capital of Minsk against any integration plans. Lukashenko has insisted he would never surrender his country's sovereignty.-0-
In his words, the West would see a forceful attempt to join the two countries as a threat and will stand up to Russia.
“The West and NATO won’t tolerate that because they would see it as a threat to themselves. In that sense, they would be right,' he was quoted as saying.
However, he noted that Belarus will not stand aside in the event of a conflict between Russia and other countries. According to Lukashenko, in recent talks with President Vladimir Putin, he recalled that Belarus would be ready to side with Russia in the event of a threat from the West.
“I said this at our latest meeting. I said that we are Russia's outpost. I asked the president Vladimir Putin the question: do you really think we will let tanks go towards Moscow should they decide to invade. Of course I am speaking figuratively here. They do not use tanks for warfare today. They do not start with tanks, tanks are used later”, the Belarusian leader said. “But should anyone want to get into some fighting with Russia, we will not stay away”, Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.
Speaking about the situation in Ukraine, Lukashenko noted that the main threat to Russia is not the country's accession to NATO, but the rise of nationalists to power in Kiev.
Lukashenko and Putin had two rounds of talks this month but failed to reach agreement on a deeper integration. The negotiations triggered opposition rallies in the Belarusian capital of Minsk against any integration plans. Lukashenko has insisted he would never surrender his country's sovereignty.-0-
