Lukashenka: American embassy sponsors extremist activity (Updated)

Alyaksandr Lukashenka tried to speak about liberalization in an interview to official mass media, but returned to usual threats and insults. However, insults to, for instance, the US, didn’t prevent him from saying he had asked for a loan of 5 billion dollars.

Accusations of US embassy in Belarus

Alyaksandr Lukashenka told in an interview to leading Belarusian media on December 18, he thinks Belarus behaved in proper way in the diplomatic conflict with the United States, but wants to normalize the relations with this country and asked it for a loan.

“What about a demarche in view of the US embassy. Say, what’s wrong here? You impose ungrounded sanctions. The embassy organizes demonstrations here. The ambassador attends almost every demonstration. The embassy allocates money to the opposition, but it is not the main thing, the embassy sponsors extremism. I’m not an idiot. I know where this money, though not the whole sum, is spent for, but tendency is clear. I wonder if we need such an embassy. Embassy should make people closer, improve relations, but everything is different here. So, a decision was taken: if you behave in such a way and have begun to press economically, arrest accounts of our enterprises in America, we say good bye,” A. Lukashenka said.

However, insults to the US didn’t prevent Lukashenka from asking git for a $5-billion loan.

“We are making steps forward, too,” the Belarusian ruler said. “We are in a difficult situation and we are asking Americans for help. But to be true, they don’t hurry to help us, and they are wrong. I have asked them for help, though they were thinking for a long time. 5 billion dollars is not a problem for them. Our relations may have been improved. Only five billion out of trillions. It is not for free, we will return this money back, we have asked to lend us money at interest. We should give proper respect to the Americans in the International Monetary Fund that supported us in these negotiations. Europeans and Americans supported us, and I thank them much. It shows they understand our intention to normalize our relations with the huge empire, which is the main force in global development. We welcome this, we’ll keep on moving in this direction. I hope the new administration will understand this.”

About opposition

“We create a state for people. But is this state for people? Let me remind a recent example. We had to arrest a prosecutor. So, I think you understand what we are speaking about liberalization of economic and non-economic sector.

It is liberalization of the society. It touches everyone, relations with oppositional media, opposition and so on. It is not because the West is pressing on us, and Lukashenka called Makei and Yancheuski and tells: go there and allow some newspapers to be printed. Well, print them, we’ll see who will buy them. We are not going to organize selling. Let them try. If we have contacts with some oppositionists, it doesn’t mean Lukashenka should have invited them to the Parliament in order they to seat and work there. It won’t be so. We want everything to be honest. Based on this principle, we will do everything and speak with everyone.”

Response to entrepreneurs

“What’s going on? Entrepreneurs (frankly speaking, I haven’t considered this case carefully, but it must be not the first time) begin to make noise, shout. Guys, why are you shouting? Why are you shouting? Last year, we gave you a year. Entrepreneurs asked to give them a year to solve their problems. It has passed. Have you solved the problems? No. So, why are you shouting? Shame on you. Everyone should be in equal conditions and run honest business. My aim is that we behave in a civilized way with entrepreneurs, opposition, the whole society and especially with the people who earn money for the country and want to work. It is my main task for today. I can tell more, appointing the Head of the Administration, I judged from it. I know this person, I told him his main task is debureaucratization. Keep their on toes. If one can’t cope with, contact me, we’ll try to solve it. Freedom should be given to people.”

About sabotage of officials and attempts of a coup

“What about “fire on staff” and intimidation of officials, let be honest, it is function of president. He may choose any methods – delicate and sophisticated or honest and direct, it depends on president himself. You see, I have never hidden anything. It can’t be called “fire on staff”. If the staff is bad, it will be fired with critics, or it will be destroying solid fire. But it is a function of president, he must control these staffs or open fire, or criticize, or take mercy. If some groups appear in governmental bodies, which will conduct a policy different from the one of the elected president, my policy follows my electoral promises. I didn’t told people: Listen I will hug everyone, warm and feed everyone, you will do what you want, and officials will carry on privatization, steal and thieve. I didn’t say this. I said I would open destructive fire if you did so. You elected me, not fulfil my orders. If you don’t fulfil, then fire is possible... However, I don’t see a staff I’d like to bomb out completely. But if my orders are not fulfilled, I will do it next year.

Clans? Clan system is impossible in Belarus. There can’t be any clans here. But “groups” and “grouping” may appear, they may hiss what is doing wring and what is right. Well, if they are critical, I know many people think so, it is good. Why should they always agree with me?

Hissing and talks in kitchens is one thing, let it be so. It has always been, in any state. But when this turns into sabotage, and a grouping appears in the government machine...Then I will open fire for effect in a certain direction. President can’t allow sabotage in governmental bodies. It is a forerunner of chaos. It is a forerunner of destabilization.”

About Europe and sanctions

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said he would have a worthy dialog with Europe, but wouldn’t have a special intention to find a way of improving the relations.

“If one thinks I have taken the bait and will jump like a hair, he is mistaken, we will stand on dignity,” the Belarusian ruler told journalists.

A. Lukashenka commented on a fact of 6-month freezing of a ban of entry the EU countries for Belarusian officials.

He noted this moratorium expires in April and it “is pressed breaking the laws”.

About danger of US missile shield in the Czech Republic and Poland

Deployment of American elements of anti-missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland threats security of Belarus, Lukashenka says.

“We have announced the United State, the anti-missile defense systems they want to deploy in the Czech Republic and Poland, threat our security,” he said.

“Because they a re deployed close to our borders and aimed at our ally – Russia,” the Belarusian ruler explained.

According to A. Lukashenka, “these missiles may be used not only to destroy missiles of other countries, but to target other object with nuclear weapon.”