Republic

No political concessions for economic benefits, Alexander Lukashenko says

“Even the integration with Russia will not compel Belarus to make political concessions in exchange for economic benefits”, Alexander Lukashenko said in the interview to Russia Today TV channel and RIA Novosti news agency, BelTA learnt from the press service of the President. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus cannot agree to Russia’s tough stance on economic issues. At the same time he noted that Belarus will under no circumstances give up its independence. “We will never succumb to this blackmail. It would be of no surprise if Americans were doing it, knowing that they are not very fond of us. But we will not take it from our brethren”, the President said. “I kept saying: let’s stop this gas pricing pressure. Let us work this money off. It pertains to the defense sphere and military facilities”, Alexander Lukashenko added. The President thinks that the NATO expansion increased manifold the role of Belarus in the defensive capacity of Russia. “You know full well the perspectives, in particular in the spheres of anti-missile defense. The role of Belarus has grown a hundred times. Figuratively speaking, we will not let tanks march across Belarus in Moscow direction. It counts for much”, the Belarusian leader said. “Pragmatism should also be double-sided. But what pragmatism can we be talking about if we receive nothing for the role that we play in the defensive capacity of Russia”, Alexander Lukashenko stressed.