There’s no stopping Belarusian dictator

During the usual annual address to the nation and so-called “parliament” Lukashenka told about “plans to overthrow him” and about the crisis in the country.

The Belarusian dictator started his speech with threats against the opposition and the West.

“We are to do our utmost and use every possible means to provide lawfulness, stability of the constitutional foundations, law and order,” the head of the state said. According to Lukashenka, “the present time gives us a unique chance to get rid of everything unnecessary”.

The Belarusian leader has admitted that “the black wing of the crisis has touched Belarus too”. “That’s the price of integration into the world economy,” he noted.

Lukashenka warned “everyone who plans to take advantage of it and hopes to fish in troubled waters,” Interfax informs.

Enemies of the people are all around

The Belarusian dictator has accused representatives of the opposition of betrayal of the nation’s interests.

“They are not the opposition, they are merely enemies of the nation, as they do the things unacceptable in any state, even the most democratic one,” Lukashenka stated, speaking about the calls of oppositional politicians to the West to stop cooperation with his regime.

In particular, A. Lukashenka mentioned the letter of oppositionists with an appeal to block Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership program, and not to allow the Belarusian leader to take part in the summit in Prague. The dictator added that the letter hadn’t been signed by one of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who knew “it would be the ruin for the country”.

“Do such an opposition and its leaders have any future, when they are against normal life of people?” A. Lukashenka asked and concluded: “No future!”

About “creeping counter-revolution”

“Creeping counter-revolution won't work in Belarus,” Lukashenka stated, reminding that “colour revolutions got a punch in their mugs here”.

Addressing “some our and foreign politicians”, dictator warned against plans “by liberalizing social processes to secretly create conditions for changing the existing social order, or better to say, for Lukashenka’s overthrow”.

“Any regime is worth something only when it can defend itself and defend its people. As the leader of the state I will do anything to defend not my power, but e power of the people who had placed me here”, A. Lukashenka said.

During crisis you should work day and night, without sleep or food, to maintain industries

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has called upon the people to work day and night and not think of the state as a social security agency.

“I categorically resist reduction of the staff and throwing people away to the streets. We would like to preserve manufacturing and leave every person working in the industry near their machines”, the leader of the state said.

He underlined that “people should understand that when we have chosen this path, and so we should come to work and work day and night, with no sleep and no food, but maintain industries”. Then, as said by the leader of the state, “people would have occupation in the post-crisis period, and we won’t lose cadres”.

“More and more often I receive information that people are ready to live I Belarus like in a social security agency. Belarus is not a social security agency: I work when I want. It won’t do this way,” A. Lukashenka stated, underlining that “locally instructions have been made to stop such sentiments in the harshest way”.

Liberalization is not permissiveness

Lukashenka insists that the liberalization of the economy announced in the country shouldn’t be seen as permissiveness.

“When we announced liberalization of the economy, many people understood it as permissiveness. And it should be seen as a creative initiative, and not a way to get easy money,” he said.

“Liberalization is not a one-time act. Is does not come to privatization and selling off land only. It is a systematic process primarily aimed at business activity motivating,” the Belarusian ruler underscored.

“We are speaking about economic liberalization, about not hindering those who want to work. And some renegades and antisocial personalities have understood that one could do what one likes.”

“My condition is quite good…”

Speaking about whether the new team or family influence him, he answered: “Some people use the following line of reasoning: some new team came to the president, I won’t tell their names, these names are well-known, they include even my sons; -- and they allegedly influence the president, they turn the wheel of history of Belarus towards the West away from Russia, liberalization and so on. Calm down, I am still able to form the policy inside the country and abroad,” A. Lukashenka said.

“I am saying once again, honestly and sincerely: do not delude yourselves that some groupings have emerged around the president and press on him and influence him: go to the West – and he goes; or go to the East,” the leader of the state underlined.

“We go where we are waited for, where we have our national interests. Don't worry, the president’s condition is quite good, and he is ready to adopt decisions in the framework of the Constitution,” A. Lukashenka said.

Lukashenka has called Czech president’s statement “boorishness”

Alyaksandr Lukashenka believes that the statement of the “high-ranking official of the Czech Republic” about “not offering a hand to Lukashenka” boorishness.

“Not long ago that I heard in the media from a high-ranking Czech official that he “won’t offer me a hand”. Well, it’s ok if you won’t. Please no boorishness, it does no good in the relations between the states,” the dictator stated.

The Belarusian leader called upon the host side at the EU summit of the European Partnership to choose proper with wording and make their position specific. “If it would be inconvenient for you to have at least one person from Belarus, then you shouldn’t invite us. We shall tolerate if it would be uncomfortable or unbeneficial to you,” A. Lukashenka said. “Do as you please. If it is convenient that a different person, not Lukashenka, will represent Belarus, say it openly,” he added. “I am an open person; let’s talk openly, maybe not publicly. And I will understand you,” the Belarusian leader said, addressing the organisers of the Eastern Partnership summit.

As it has been informed, the Czech President’s spokesman Radim Ochvat said that Vaclav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic presiding in the EU now, “won’t offer a hand to Mr Lukashenka” and “won’t invite him to his residence in Prazsky hrad” in case he arrive to Prague to the European Partnership summit on May 7, 2009.

Russian direction is a priority

Alyaksandr Lukashenka confirms the strategic importance of cooperation with Russia for Belarus.

“Cooperation with the Russian Federation and building of the union state have a strategic meaning for Belarus,” A. Lukashenka said.

The Belarusian leader called the effect of cooperation of the two countries “impressive”. “[We have] a turnover of about $35 billion last year, the wide range of spheres of cooperation, intensive and interested dialogue at all levels,” he noted.

Lukashenka paid attention to the fact that the decisions adopted during the last session of the Supreme State Council of the “union state” form “a strategic line of bilateral cooperation”, adding that “joint anti-crisis programs” take on special significance.

During delivering the address A. Lukashenka has also set a task to maintain the high level of cooperation in the framework of the EurAsEC, CSTO and the CIS.

“In a few months Belarus to receive functions of the chairman in the CSTO legislative bodies”, he reminded. “In the conditions of continuing erosion of the European global security, the problem is posed to use the potential of this organisation in full measure,” A. Lukashenka noted.

A. Lukashenka has also said that participation in the Non-Aligned Movement remains a priority for the country.

Belarus to produce “Iskanders” itself

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is perplexed by offers in Russian mass media to stop weapons deliveries to Belarus because of its rapprochement with the West.

“When relations with the West were tense, everybody in Russia was for Belarus. And today in reputable editions which are read by Russian leaders too, it is said: what’s the use of delivering such weapons as Iskander to Belarus, when Lukashenka has changed the vector of his foreign policy,” A. Lukashenka said.

“We have never asked Iskanders from the Russians. We’ll buy them ourselves. But I’ll say sincerely, we’ll produce them ourselves if we would need them, except missiles; and we’ll buy missiles,” he promised.

At the same time, the ruler underlined that Belarus cannot pursue the policy against Russia, as Russia cannot be substituted for by any other country.

Addressing European partners, the president expressed misunderstanding over the statements on the problem of recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “They say, if Belarus recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, we would punish it. Then you should punish Russia, they have already recognized it,” A. Lukashenka said, promising that Belarus will fulfill what was declared by the country many times.

The Belarusian ruler asked people in the East and in the West to calm down and “to try to proceed from our internal interests just for one minute”.

“Calm down, let us pursue the policy which would be interesting and harmless to all,” he promised.

Dictator against freedom of speech

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is convinced that if freedom was given to the opposition in the media, “people would avoid it like a leper”.

“Lukashenka is demanded to change the laws, to break the electoral system, to destroy mass media, to give them to the opposition. But if the Belarusian oppositionists would be allowed to be published in mass media openly, 90% of the population would avoid them like lepers,” the dictator stated.

Underlining that Belarus does not accept a dialogue from the position of strength, but keeps its promises, and addressing Western ambassadors who are traditionally present in the Oval hall, the Belarusian leader said: “Belarus has kept to its promise to the West, and stops illegal migrants from the East to the EU countries”.

“We have put a barrier on the way of illegal migrants to the Western Europe. We are keeping our word like a reinforced concrete,” A. Lukashenka said, “We promised that, and we are doing that. Now illegal migrants pass Belarus by, no matter what aim of there trip from East to West is,” the Belarusian ruler underlined.

“We are guarding the stability of the European heart and we want everything to be tranquil and normal here,” the leader of the state noted.

“Maybe not today, but tomorrow you are to understand that and to express thanks to us,” he said.