Republic
29.12.2006
The attitude of the Russian Federation leadership towards Belarus is unproductive, Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko told reporters today while answering questions about the Union State development.
“Together with Russia we did a lot of useful things for citizens of the two states. A law has been adopted to regulate social issues. Belarusians are no longer aliens in Russia, while Russians have not been aliens in our country for a long time”, said the head of state.
He underlined, the interstate relations of Belarus and Russia got significantly more complicated in late 2006. “Before that we just put up with it and kept silence. We have been pressured since the beginning of the year”, underlined the president. Meanwhile Belarus has been working to resolve certain issues.
Speaking about the development of Belarus-Russia relations within the Union State framework, Belarus president said, “Maybe, the union initially conceived by the first presidents of Belarus and Russia is not needed”. He also said, the neighbouring state had been seeing the union as Belarus’ merger with Russia. “We support the union, but it should be based on equality just as the treaty reads”, said the Belarusian leader. He pointed out, the sides had created the necessary legal base. However, it is being destroyed gradually, said Alexander Lukashenko. “Imagine now the situation when we introduce the Russian ruble as the sole legal tender. We would have to address problems with salaries, investments, other things”, underlined the president. According to the head of state, such a union means the destruction of Belarus independence.