Lukashenka to Solana: “We should remove any mediators from our relations”

Alyaksandr Lukashenka stands for development of the cooperation with the European Union without mediators in and outside the country.

“I would like to ask you Mr Solana that in relations between Belarus and Europe we should try to remove any mediators, especially those, whose point of view is not entirely kind to our country. I refer to mediators both in and outside the country. And there are many of them,” A. Lukashenka said at the meeting in Minsk with Javier Solana, EU’s High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union.

According to A. Lukashenka, he had an impression that “a certain bargaining in economy and policy can be noticed in the current relations between Belarus and the European Union”. “A dialog in the form of bargaining is unwelcomed, it can’t be avoided. We do not need it, because the European Union understands what Belarus means for Europe from the point o view of policy and economy,” the Belarusian rulers noted.

“The objective of our meeting is to tell you what we are ready to do to have close trusting relations between our country and the European Union,” A. Lukashenka said.

The Belarusian dictator said he tried to use facts “to convince you that Belarus’s policy towards the European Union is sincere”. A. Lukashenka also will try to argue the EU out of an opinion that “we have no other way out but to follow one direction, making errors and deceiving Europeans.” “I adhere to an exclusively honest and sincere policy. However bitter it can be, we will speak the truth: what we can do and what we can’t,” A. Lukashenka stressed.

The Belarusian ruler thanked Solana for what he had done “to establish our good relations with Europe”. “Judging from the information I have and personal impressions I can say that we wouldn’t have this thaw if it were not for you,” he noted.

J. Solana said the EU regards Belarus as a European country. J. Solana said he expected the meeting to be constructive and useful and promised to be sincere, too.

According to him, the world is not trying to tackle the global economic crisis, which will also have global political consequences. The EU’s representative noted it’s high time to discuss it.

J. Solana arrived in Minsk at night February 18. It has been the visit of a EU’s official of such level to Belarus. Besides official talks, J. Solana met with representatives of the civil society and the opposition.