Lukashenka: In Belarus neither president nor MPs had ever been elected undemocratically

At the meeting with the heads of the Foreign Ministries of Poland and Germany in his assurances and the Belarusian dictator has gone beyond all possible limits.

“I would like to assure you that the election would go like clockwork. As an incumbent president I would like to assure you that the election would be held according to the most democratic standards,” said Alyaksandr Lukashenka at the meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland Guido Westerwelle and Radoslaw Sikorski in Minsk.

As noted by the Belarusian leader, “there is no need for us to hold the election which will be placed in doubt by the international community.” Lukashenka said that “for today any person from any country of the world, representatives of international organizations have received the broadest access to the Belarusian society.” “No one on this planet is more interested in the legitimacy of the elections. We are interested in the legitimacy of the elections, so that no questions will arise later,” he emphasized.

Lukashenka expressed a hope that “the today’s meeting arouses mutual interest.” “We are interested in cooperation with Europe very much, but Europe cannot do without Belarus as well, as Belarus is the centre of Europe,” he noted.

The Belarusian ruler stated that “the steps taken by the European Union, do not contribute to quick improvement of our relations.” “Sanctions in the politics, in economy – I think such methods should have disappeared from our relations,” Lukashenka said. Besides, he noted that “there is no headway”, in particular, in implementation of the Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU. “We were interested in development of the Eastern partnership, but unfortunately, so far we have more hopes than reality,” he stated. As said by him, “we have something to offer to Europe and, in particular, to Germany and Poland because these are two countries that we energetically cooperate with”.

In his turn, the Foreign Minister of Poland Sikorski noted that “as a neighbour of Belarus and a member of the EU, Poland is interested in Belarus’ being a European nation and adhere to European values.” In particular, such values as “democracy and respect to national minorities”, the minister explained. “Poland supports purposes and objectives of the Eastern Partnership – economic cooperation, streamlining of visa regime,” Sikorski said. He noted that Moldova, which territory is by far smaller as compared to Belarus, in the nearest future is to receive $2 billion of aid. “I think that political opportunities would be created for Belarus to start receiving such an aid,” noted the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry. “That is why I would like to catch you in the word, that the election will be conducted as you have said,” the Polish minister said.

Lukashenka answered again: “If you are not prejudiced, then you must be sure in your soul that the lection would be held exactly like that.” “We have never had an occasion for the president and members of the parliament to be elected undemocratically, and especially the president,” Lukashenka said. The upcoming election is to be “much better, as you wish that.”

As said by Guido Westerwelle, the Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany, “we are here and we both want to regard you [Belarus] not only as a neighbour, but as a partner.” “We have a clear understanding that we want to see you [Belarus] as a partner,” Mr. Westerwelle noted.

As said by him, “the European Union is not only a common market, a common answer to globalization, but common values.” “It is important that human rights, democracy, the rule of law to be developed in Belarus. We have general interest in Belarus developing both economic and democratic processes,” said the head of the German Foreign Ministry. He stated that invitation of foreign observers to the presidential election is considered to be a step in the right direction.” “We hope that observers will have free unhindered access, for them to observe the process of preparation and carrying out the election,” Westerwelle stated.

In this connection Lukashenka said, that “you can even count the votes if you have a wish.”

Continuing the topic of the upcoming election in Belarus, Westerwelle underlined that “the presidential election will be a test, an acid test for democracy.” “We are interested in the results and conditions of the election comply with the standards,” he continued. In particular, Westerwelle noted that “we want the opposition to have access to mass media, for them [the oppositional candidates] to have a chance to present their election programmes.” “In such a case we would consider the election as free and transparent,” stated the head of the Foreign Ministry of Germany.