US base, Western democracy, war in Donbas – Lukashenka speaks at MSC Core Group meeting
Belsat.eu has picked the most interesting statements by Alyaksandr Lukashenka out of his speech at the Munich Security Conference Core Group meeting in Minsk.
Nuclear war feasibility and fort Trump
Minsk and Moscow are mulling over an inexpensive and adequate response to the possible deployment of a US military base to Poland.
“If, for instance, politicians in Poland declare they are ready to shell out billions of U.S. dollars in order to place American weapons and station battalions of American troops there, we certainly respond to this bearing in mind recent history <…>Certainly, together with our key ally we think about ways to counteract all of it and at minimal costs. We are not that rich. Neither Belarus nor Russia.”
At that, Lukashenka blasted those who ‘launch mass media campaigns and start waving about nuclear warheads’ for not thinking ‘about their own security, about the security of their own nations’.
According to him, if the avalanche of confrontation and the breaking of universal rules of the game are not stopped soon, the confrontation will reach new heights.
“Not only Ukraine or Eastern Europe will go up in flames. A nuclear conflict between major powers with no winners at the end is near.”
War in Donbas
Belarus is ready to take responsibility for ensuring peace in eastern regions of Ukraine and exerting control over the Russian-Ukrainian border, as well as assist holding elections in Donbas.
“Do not rush to reject this. We do not want to show off. Ukrainian people respect our position and the role we have played since the beginning of the conflict; this is what our proposals proceed from. We are ready to solve this problem, only if we are confident that the main players want peace in our common European home, that there are no people who would like to heat up the situation in Ukraine and make it a reference point in order to fan tensions between Russia and Belarus. I think I should not go any further <…> People are tired of the war in Ukraine. Nobody needs this war, either Belarus or Russia.”
Western democracy
In Lukashenka’s opinion, the West is going through a major democracy crisis.
“Girls in schools should not be afraid to wear skirts. Otherwise, what kind of democracy can you talk about,” the head of state cited an example. “Where are the human rights of those executed in Norway (seven or eight dozen people)? Where are the human rights of their families and friends? Meanwhile he [Anders Breivik] is doing his time in a three-room ‘apartment’ and still demands some rights and privilege.”
The West will hardly be able to preserve democracy, Lukashenka warns.
“Let us see what will happen with democracy in Western Europe. Progressive Germans have not appreciated Angela Merkel‘s role in modern history and are trying to sideline her. Look what is happening in your states, in the West. But you still continue to preach about some kind of democracy not even trying to understand what is happening here, in the post-Soviet territory: Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other republics.”
The Belarusian leader also expressed outrage over the West’s criticism of the human rights situation in Belarus.
“They tell us that Europe would like Belarus to remain sovereign. Some of our western partners are enthusiastic about Minsk’ position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Crimea and the Donbass. However, when it comes to practical cooperation, they say we have issues with human rights.”
belsat.eu, following BelTA
