Александр Лукашенко. Фото: president.gov.by
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that no payment is required to work in the Peace Council during the first three years, and that he expects Belarus to be able to continue working in the organization free of charge even after that period.
Bloomberg, citing a draft charter of the organization and diplomatic sources, had reported that each country participating in the Council must contribute more than $1 billion. Lukashenka denied this information.
“These sick people have embarrassed themselves once again. You just need to read the document. No money is required,” Lukashenka said.
He explained that participation in the Council is free for the first three years, and that with successful cooperation it can continue beyond that period.
“But if after three years you want to make sure you are not elected, not invited, and not appointed there, then pay a billion dollars and keep working after three years. The billion is needed if after three years you want to work on. But there is another condition. If you cooperate and work well for the sake of peace, you can continue working without a billion. I am oriented toward the latter,” Lukashenka was quoted as saying by his press service.
Lukashenka said that what is needed for work in the Council is his experience, not money, and that even Donald Trump would not dare ask for money for his services.
“That is why this is all lies. They do not know what to latch onto in order to hurt me somehow. As people say, to lower my rating, my role, and so on. Of course, this is important to me. But it is the last thing I think about. And if there were something worth paying a billion dollars for, I would pay it.
But if they want to receive my service, like from others who were invited, and also get a billion dollars… Even Trump would not allow himself something like that. That is why it is complete lies that we must contribute some kind of billion dollars. Absolutely nothing is needed. What is needed is experience and capabilities in order to work in this Council,” Lukashenka said.
“No one will pay money just like that. That was my first question that I asked. No, no money is needed. The Foreign Ministry seriously studied all these issues,” Lukashenka said.
On January 20, Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a document on Belarus’s accession to the Peace Council on behalf of Belarus. He hopes that the organization will address not only the conflict in the Gaza Strip but also the settlement of the war in Ukraine.