Belarusian dictator taught European Ambassadors how to live

The European Union shouldn’t make Belarus choose between the East and the West, Lukashneka stated at a ceremony of receiving credentials from foreign ambassadors.

“You should understand that you shouldn’t present us with a choice: the EU or the East, Russia and so on,” he said.

As informed by “Interfax”, Lukashenka reminded that “from the first days when directions of foreign policy of Belarus were announced, we stated that it is a multi-vector policy”. “We are proceeding from the fact that we are a sovereign and independent state, it is a reality. And the first person who guards independence and sovereignty is the president of the county,” Lukashenka underlined.

He noted that Europe believes that “Belarus is in such a situation when it has no choice, except following in the set direction”. However, Lukashenka noted that there is no catastrophe in the country, either I social, or economic, or political spheres. “It’s hard for us, but we won’t collapse,” he stressed.

Lukashenka called upon the European diplomats to shift away from such a diplomatic practice: to say one thing publicly, and to do other things”. “If the EU is proceeding from the things which have been stated publicly, we understand that and we can do that. But unfortunately, the information I have shows the contrary,” the ruler noted.

Denying effectiveness of the external pressure on any country, Lukashenka underlined that Europeans “should understand: we can agree to the concessions and conditions which do not contradict interests of the nation, neighbours and Europe in general”.

“If the European states want to see a different leader, not Lukashenka, they should arm themselves with patience and wait, as I am not eternal. But as long as president Lukashenka is here, and he is elected by the nation, you should arm yourselves with patience and establish a dialogue with him,” he underlined.

The dictator noted that he won’t do steps to please Europeans or other states. “We should do what answers strategic interests of Belarus and Europe,” the leader of the state said. “We have not just a right of choice, we have choice,” A. Lukashenka noted with emphasis. He underlined that “the ten years of sanctions by the EU against us hasn’t had effect”.

“We should drift away from that and understand that Europe cannot exist without Belarus, without Ukraine. You will remain the European Union, but not a entire joined Europe,” the president underlined.

In her turn, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Great Britain Rosemary Thomas noted that she and all her colleagues share his point of view that Belarus shouldn’t face a dilemma – the EU or Russia.

The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ireland Donald Denham expressed a hope that they would be able to write a new chapter in their relations, which would not dictate choice to Belarus, but reflect mutually beneficial steps to meet.

Juan Antonio Marc Pujol, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Spain to Belarus (pluralistically) noted: “We see the world that is changing rapidly, and we are ready to work on the conception of Europe’s extension, but for that we need the both sides to take quicker steps”. He reminded that since January 1, 2010 Spain is to be the presiding country in the EU.