Lukashenka: Gazprom sells us gas at higher price than to Europe

The Belarusian ruler states that it is necessary to find alternative for Russian energy resources.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that Belarus cannot give up on Russian energy resources completely, but he demanded the government to look for the new sources and routes of supplies of energy to the country.

“The Russian government might have some reasons to adopt such a stance. We criticize them for that, but we should try to walk in their shoes and they should do the same when we will be looking for alternatives to the natural gas and oil which is the reason why they are trying to pressurize us so much,” Lukashenka said on Monday at the consultations on diversification of foreign economic activities, Interfax reports.

He stressed: “We cannot depend on one state, on one centre of supplies, be it energy resources, raw material, spare parts. We must fly on two wings. “I have warned you, that you should not be in the clouds, but should start defending out interests harshly. One should not forget about the strategic aims to serve up-to-the-minute advantages,” Lukashenka stated, addressing members of the government.

“Knowing that, a few years ago we tried to find an alternative to crude hydrocarbons of Russia and entered the markets of Latin America, Africa, Iran, which have enough hydrocarbon material,” he noted. “We have started to produce oil in Venezuela and Iran. Moreover, we have reached the point when we receive oil from Venezuela and refine it at our enterprises successfully,” Lukashenka said.

Lukashenka said he had a meeting with Prime Minister of Lithuania before the consultation. The Lithuanian PM said at the meeting Gazprom sold gas to Belarus at a higher price than the European average”.

“Of course, Europe won’t buy this gas and it will be difficult for Gazprom to hold the price. It’s their problems, their goods. By and large, we might argue, agree or disagree, but we should always have an alternative,” Lukashenka said.

“We see how the situation with the state is developing, there are a lot of questions in the sphere of economy, trade, and policy. You can see a position of our Eastern neighbour and a position of our Western neighbour, the EU,” the Belarusian head of state noted. “This proves what I warned you. I warned that a new state needs own place in the sun, and how our neightbours, partners and those who has put an eye on this piece of land long ago will regard this. Naturally, we will have to prove with our intelligence and brains and, Lord forbid, force that we can and need to live here as nation,” Lukashenka said.