Politics

​BELARUS PRESIDENT CALLS ON RUSSIA TO STOP PRESSING ON MOLDOVA

20 octomber, 2014

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has called upon Russia not to press on Moldova, having recognized its territorial integrity.

On Friday, Lukashenko gave a news conference for Russian journalists, at which he criticized Moscow’s position on Ukraine and on other issues.

In particular, Alexander Lukashenko criticized Russia’s pressing on Moldova – the ban on the importation of Moldovan wines, agricultural goods and canned food. Answering journalists’ questions, Lukashenko said he does not think it would be correct to close the Belarus market for Moldovan products. He called Moscow not to rush using prohibitive measures.

He drew attention to the fact that if Belarus follows Russian call and closes its market for Moldovan products, the economic niche will inevitably appear both in Belarus and Russia and will be quickly filled by companies from the European Union, for association with which Moldova is being punished.

“Why should Moldova be pressed to prevent its integration with Europe? And what should Moldovans do? The European Union helps Moldova’s modernization, but Russia does not wish to notice this, paying attention first and foremost to threats to Russian interests. One should bear in mind that Europeans render financial assistance to Moldova for realization of various projects. If I were in Moldova’s shoes, I would not reject such money, either, if there are no other offers. There are no such offers. Russia sells natural gas to Moldova at the highest price in the CIS, and keeps putting economic pressure. Moldovans have no way out. They are at the end of their tether, like animals trapped by hunters”, said Alexander Lukashenko

He also said that Russia behaves incorrectly with respect to Ukraine [which, like Moldova, has also signed an Association Agreement with the European Union].

“The Crimea is a Ukrainian land and it must be only within Ukraine. Smolensk and Bryansk are Belarussian areas, too, but we don’t need then presently. Of course, Ukraine itself gave a pretext for the annexation of the Crimea. Ukraine must have fought for the peninsular, not surrendered it. And stop pecking me for the Crimea and for Abkhazia. We shall not recognize them! And if only we recognize South Ossetia, we will find ourselves in the same situation as Russia is currently under the sanctions – but only under squared sanctions. And Russia will not help us”, stressed Alexander Lukashenko.

He said he has a very good attitude to the Ukrainian people.

“And don’t believe that Ukrainians are fascists. Yes there are scoundrels among them, but such kind of people are available in Russia as well”, he said.

Touching on Russia-Moldova relations, Lukashenko referred to the question of Russian support for Transnistria. In his words, he supports the official Chisinau’s policy on the Transnistrian question. He stated he would act in the same way in Belarus, had there appeared a threat of a conflict that would lead to the formation of a second Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.

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