Lukashenka: There's nothing more unbearable than freedom

A Belarusian dictator has addressed the “parliament” and people. The date of the address was moved due to making amendments to the text.

“Election” on old scenario

Alyaksandr Lukashenka says no changes in the electoral legislation are planned.

“I guarantee the forthcoming election campaign will be held on the highest level in strict complacence with the Constitution and Belarusian legislation,” Lukashenka said.

He addressed representatives of the diplomatic corps presenting in the Oval Hall, “No steps to the left or to the right. I am saying it specially for diplomats and the part of society wondering how the election will be carried out.”

The head of state emphasized, “No changes [in the electoral legislation – Interfax] ahead of the forthcoming election. Time is out.”

Lukashenka also said he stood against proportional elections. “People should elect MPs on a majority basis. An MP should be maximally close to his constituency, he should not depend on any lists,” he thinks.

He praised the acting “parliament” and suggested a part of the MPs presenting in the Oval Hall would be seen in the next convocation of the lower and upper houses of the “national assembly” of Belarus.

Monologue with the West

“We are ready for a dialogue with the West, but fundamental principles of stability and independence must be preserved” Lukashenka said.

“A lot of  time was wasted due to a strange position of Europe. Our position remains unchanged: We are ready for a dialogue. Of course, we cannot betray our basic principles. Stability in society and state is our most precious value,” Lukashenka stressed.

“Many envy Belarus because we have no disorders, conflicts and political disturbances. We do not want this and will not allow this by all means,” the head of state noted.

He said, “After the 2010 presidential election, Belarus planned to follow a 'western way' strengthening dialogue with Europe and the United State, developing civil society and inner political dialogue, improving  the political system. But the West and our 'fifth' column refused to have a dialogue. Moreover, they launched a real attack on our country through pressure and sanctions.” “I hope many have convinced today this path goes to a deadlock,” the Belarusian dictator thinks.

On “social networking revolutions”

“We saw attempts to explode our country by means of the Internet. We have been watching it, all these 'revolutions by social networks'.  But we did not blocked anything [access to the Internet for users – Interfax]. We asnwered. We used new methods to rebuff,” Lukashenka said.

“We'll continue doing so in future,” the dictator said.

He noted the West and the US often rebuked Belarus for too tough state control over the Internet. “It's strange Belarus is put on these ludicrous lists of enemies of the Internet. Are we enemies? We developed our norms of the Internet control on the example of the EU and the USA,” Lukashenka said.

Putting knee or boot on our neck has not prospects

“Let's be friends and talk to one another. A dialogue is the only way that may be successful for us and you [the EU and US – Interfax]. We have no other ways,” Lukashenka said.

He stated, “Unfortunately, it's easier to say than to do.” “Too many people do not like it. They deny Belarus its natural right to have own national interests,” Lukashenka noted. Accordion to him, certain countries “think they have the right to tell us how we should live and develop”.

“Such attitude towards Belarus is doomed to failure,” the head of state stressed. “I'd like to tell Europeans and Americans: it's impossible to break us. Belarusians cannot be broken artificially. We can be buried and you can do with our country whatever you want. But breaking us, making us bow, putting your knee or boot on our neck has no prospects,” the dictator noted.

“We are ready to listen to voices from the EU, America, Russia, but we will live as we want to serve the interests of our people,” Lukashenka said.

“We like the existing order in the European Union and we'd like to accept it, I mean economy and political system of our society. But it will be quiet, calm, noble, in the interests of the people of Belarus,” Lukashenka said.

Sanctions have effect

“Yes, it’s true, we are viewing certain issues of organization of society differently. But divisions are to be to overcome by talks, by a normal dialogue, and not by sanctions and prohibitions. The policy of sanctions is wrong, primarily because it is futile, unproductive,” A. Lukashenka stated.

He added that at the moment many analysts are arguing that Belarus would make a choice between its partners in the East and in the West, “they are speaking about some pendulum which can swing this or that way.”

“Belarus does not have enmity either to the European Union or to the US. That why we primarily look at what is uniting us, and not dividing us. We are looking into one future,” the dictator said.

“Now many analysts are looking at us and thinking, asking: will you go this way or that way? With them or with us?” these all are outdated notions. Sensible politicians understand that there is no pendulum, but there are objective interests of the country, which is living in the today and in the future,” he said.

The dictator stressed that the strategic future of Belarus is in “the two large formation, the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Space, not being hostile to each other, they should not divide the continent, but unite it.”

“Proceeding from that, Belarus proposes the idea of “integration of integrations”. Its aim is to create a common economic space from Lisbon to Far East. That’s what the current Russian president is talking about,” A. Lukashenka said.

The last dictator of Europe added that the European Union is a strategic economic partner for him.

There is nothing more unbearable than freedom

Lukashenka has given that to understand that he considers creation in Belarus of a truly democratic society based upon civil freedoms premature. “Those who are the most vocal proponents of freedom, are unlikely to be ready for this freedom,” he believes. The Belarusian dictator quoted the words of the world famous writer Fiodor Dostoevsky: “There is nothing as unbearable for a person as freedom.” “The great writer was right, receiving freedom a person understands that he had shouldered the heaviest burden: freedom means responsibility, person makes decisions oneself and is responsible for them,” the ruler expressed his opinion.

In this connection A. Lukashenka believes that “our partners in the West should understand that the civil society and democracy do not appear at the stroke of a pen on a presidential decree. It does not happen in a day, years are needed for that.”