Фото: Пул первого
Alyaksandr Lukashenka today met with Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Governor Vladislav Kuznetsov. During the meeting, he suggested that Sports Minister Siarhei Kavalchuk spend his holiday in Chukotka — apparently, this official will be responsible for relations with the region.
In addition to Kuznetsov and Kavalchuk, Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhankou and Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov were also present at the meeting. Lukashenka’s press service explained Kavalchuk’s participation by saying that the sports minister had previously served in the region for three years and was therefore “not a stranger in Chukotka”.
“Of course, we have great interest in this region. It is an unexplored region, for us as well. And in general, everything you have, we do not have. I cannot say that Russia does not have what we have. Of course, Russia has many things. But we will try to compete with the corresponding Russian products in order to interest you in us. It is a very interesting region both for me personally and for Belarusians as well”, Lukashenka said.
At the same time, he noted that Belarus has virtually no trade with Chukotka.
“The fact that we practically have no trade turnover is a problem. It should not be like this. Therefore, the government must agree on how we will cooperate further”, he said.
This is where a role emerged for Kavalchuk, who oversees relations with Chukotka.
“It is difficult for us even to imagine what Chukotka is, unfortunately. But I think life is not ending, real life is only beginning, and we will spend some time there. I was surprised that you served there, it turns out. You served there for three years, so you are also not a stranger in Chukotka. I think that, Boris Vyacheslavovich (Gryzlov – ed.), few Russian officials have spent three years in this wonderful region”, Lukashenka said.
“And in general, everything you have, we do not have. What we can offer Chukotka, you very much need. I cannot say that Russia does not have what we have. Of course, Russia has many things, but we will try to compete with the corresponding Russian products in order to interest you in us”, he continued.
Lukashenka again recalled Kavalchuk and asked whether he had been to Chukotka since his service there. He replied that he had visited the region in August last year and had met its governor three times. But Lukashenka still decided to send Kavalchuk to the remote peninsula.
“Perhaps you should spend your holiday there. Go there, see the whole region, so that we are not simply working by touch, but so that you, as a Belarusian comrade and minister, can advise us on what we should do there and what we should focus on”, Lukashenka continued.
He noted that Chukotka remains an unexplored region for him.
“It is difficult for us even to imagine what Chukotka is, unfortunately. But I think life is not ending, real life is only beginning, and we will spend some time there. The President of Russia and I talked a lot about Chukotka in the past and continue to do so now. For me it is even a strange region. Although he says: ‘We should go there!’ I ask him: ‘What is the airfield and airport like there, what kind of aircraft can land there?’ And he explains all this to me”, Lukashenka said.
“I know that around 3 million people live in such a region, where northern supply deliveries are carried out. This is also very important for us. I am afraid to say that Chukotka will become some kind of support point for us in this respect. I cannot say because I do not know whether it is possible or not. But we need to develop and work with this region. Of course, we understand that a huge number of people cannot live in Chukotka. But our people are there, people who want to live normally.
God willing, everything will work out for you there, at the very edge of our homeland. We hope that you will be our man in Chukotka if there is something you need to advise us on”, he concluded.