Putin: “Those who call names, are as bad themselves” (Video)

The Russian prime minister believes that it is not worth the trouble to be offended by the Belarusian ruler, as he is obviously having a stress.

At the session of the presidium of the Russian government, vice Prime Minister Sergei Sobyanin stated that the Belarusian side “excessively politicizes this issue (of milk export to Russia) and makes very inappropriate statements, which in general makes the process of talks more difficult,” Interfax informs.

“They may be inappropriate, but we shouldn’t take offence. It is because of crisis, fatigue and stresses,” said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in response.

At the same time he noted: “We should be more accurate in statements ourselves”.

“Even if we believe that we are right, we should know what we are saying and where we are saying it, and show reserve. But both in the everyday life and in politics to take offence is not the best solution,” the Prime Minister underlined.

“I was brought up in the streets of Leningrad, and we spoke about such cases in our yard: “Those who cal names, are as bad themselves,” V. Putin continued. “But in politics one is usually guided by completely different considerations. One should talk about interests of our nations, about interests of our states”.

“Anyway, we are one family with Belarus. Quarrels and scandals can take place in a family, but life goes on, and we should work,” V. Putin emphasized.

As we have informed, deliveries of 600 names of Belarusian dairy products to Russia was banned by the Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service as Belarusian manufacturers do not comply with the new Russian technical regulations for milk of December 2008. Later 800 more items of dairy products from Belarus were banned.

The ban from the Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service followed after a dramatic chill in the relations between Moscow and Minsk, when Russia refused to grant $500 mln loan promised earlier.

On June 9 foreign ministers of Russia and Belarus stated that the ban for Belarusian milk products cannot be considered sanctions against Minsk. However, the conflict reached the political level.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka cancelled a visit to Moscow to the session of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Besides, on June 13 it was informed that Minsk plans to tighten border control with Russia.

On June 15 it was stated that Moscow could launch a gas war against Minsk. “Gazprom” can institute a claim against Minsk for not paying for imported gas fully. In the first quarter Belarus received gas at $150 per thousand cubic metres, while the price under the contract was $210. And the grounds for that was verbal agreement between Dmitry Medvedev and Alyaksandr Lukashenka, which hadn’t been formalized however.