Фото: president.gov.by
Aliaksandr Lukashenka said he hopes the United States will help Belarus normalise relations with neighbouring countries. He made the remarks in an interview with Al Arabiya when asked whether the United States could influence European countries to restore cooperation with Belarus.
“That would be good. I have never objected to that,” Lukashenka said.
According to Lukashenka, Belarus would welcome U.S. assistance in normalising relations with its neighbours.
“If the Americans want to put pressure on or influence certain European countries, they can do so. They have influence over some countries. It would be good if the Americans helped us normalise relations with our neighbours in this regard. We do not reject any assistance,” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka said Belarus is engaged in dialogue not only with the United States but also with European Union countries, although those contacts are not public.
“We are conducting dialogue not only with the Americans. We are in close contact (though not yet in the public sphere) with representatives of major European states,” he said.
According to Lukashenka, contacts with official representatives of the United Kingdom took place more than two years ago. The sides discussed “many issues”, including the war in Ukraine, but his views were not heeded at the time.
“I expressed my point of view and later met with new heads of the relevant British agencies, who acknowledged that I had been right. But at that time, the path I proposed for achieving peace was not taken. The situation became more complicated,” he said.
Lukashenka also recalled the exchange on the Polish-Belarusian border that resulted in the release of Andrzej Poczobut and said that Trump had been personally involved in the process.
“We are in contact with Europeans. And even with some neighbours. Take Lithuania, Poland and the exchanges of people who were involved in espionage and unlawful, anti-constitutional activities in Belarus. Before those exchanges took place, the leaders of many countries were involved, including Donald Trump, who took part in the negotiation process.
To be frank, it became quite a complicated matter. We began these negotiations with the Americans, and we are ready to continue them, but on equal terms. It will not be possible to command us. We are ready to talk with Europeans, and we are talking with them. We are ready for American and European representatives to seek normal, mutually beneficial cooperation with us. Everyone — both Europeans and Americans — already understands that such cooperation is necessary. Moreover, movement towards such cooperation is already taking place. This process should continue,” Lukashenka said.