Belarus ready to retaliate against EU sanctions

MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) – If necessary, Belarus can retaliate against sanctions of the European Union. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he accepted credentials from ambassadors of nine nations on 20 February, BelTA has learned. “You must understand we choose to tolerate the sanctions you are waving before us for now. But once you cross the line, we will retaliate,” said the President. “We are in the center of Europe. 100 million tonnes of freight is shipped via Belarus from the East to the West, totally secure. We build terminals at the border, we pass your cargoes back and forth, keeping them secure. There have been no complaints in the years I am the president,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “What else Europeans need? Do they need unstable Belarus? They don’t. You don’t like Lukashenko and the policy he pursues? We will not abandon the policy as long as I get elected the president. If the people vote for the president, they support his policy. My policy is devotion to my people”. “If someone in Europe thinks that they can still bend us by some sanctions, reproaches and demands, it is a way to nowhere. Even if we are left alone without Russia, China, without other friends of ours, trust me we will stand our ground just the way we did in 1941-1945 defending our sovereignty and independence,” Alexander Lukashenko told the representatives of European nations. “It is not some kind of bravura. We just want to be like you – freedom-loving, independent and answerable to our people. We are guided by desires of our nation.” The head of state remarked, Belarus creates problems neither for neighbors nor for non-CIS states. “I don’t understand why anyone would complain. We see that someone may not like what we are doing here, we may not like some things, too. But we don’t attack anyone and we don’t try to lecture anyone. Every country has the right to develop the way it thinks right, avoiding creating problems for neighbors and other countries,” said Alexander Lukashenko. In his words, Belarus is as democratic as European countries. “Take a closer look at what is going on in Belarus. We want peace and stability,” remarked the President. Addressing Ambassador of Norway Jon Elvedal Fredriksen, the President of Belarus reminded that the two countries suffered terrible tragedies in 2011. “We know the price for stability. And we want to preserve stability whatever the cost. Because tranquility is the key thing in a man’s life,” believes Alexander Lukashenko. “I just urge Europeans to take a closer look at our country and to avoid doing bad things against Belarus. We didn’t deserve it. We haven’t even restored the pre-war population level. We sacrificed three million people for the sake of our common victory. What would have happened if we failed back then?” wondered the President. “Therefore, you should respect people because those, who saw the terrible war, are still alive in Belarus”. “Our stance is not based on some kind of personal ambitions. We don’t need that. It is based on deep-rooted reasons that originate in our society, our Belarusian nation,” stressed the Belarusian leader. “And we have many friends these days. It is useless to torpedo our relations with Europe, trying to restrain, to offend and punish us somehow. Cooperation with Russia, China, India, and Central Asia is more than sufficient for our country. We will enable a normal life for our people. But we don’t want to be a headache for Europeans because the center of Europe is here,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

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