Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said the agenda of his negotiations with the United States includes 10 issues covering sanctions and other topics. He made the statement today in the Drybin District.
“We are negotiating with them. With dignity. Leaving Russia and China outside the brackets. That is not under discussion,” Lukashenka said, according to his press service.
It should be recalled that last Sunday Lukashenka mentioned the upcoming visit of an American delegation while visiting the fast-food chain Mak.by. During the week, reports emerged that US presidential envoy John Coale would arrive in Vilnius on March 18 and then travel to Minsk.
“We are discussing our bilateral relations, starting from restoring the normal work of the embassy to the release of the so-called political prisoners. Although we do not have such articles. Economic issues and sanctions — everything together. There are about ten issues. We are negotiating with them on all of them. There are a lot of questions,” Lukashenka continued.
“I will conduct the conversation with them only from these positions. We will not adapt ourselves to them in any way. They are not demanding that either. They understand that it will not happen,” he added.
He also separately addressed the issue of political prisoners. Lukashenka again repeated that there are no political articles in Belarus’s Criminal Code.
“And I say here as well: if anyone tries to repeat 2020 — and we all experienced it in 2020 — the reaction will be the harshest. I will say more: without looking at any laws. I will react in the harshest way,” he said.
According to him, actions must be taken for the sake of children and future generations.
“That’s all. A human approach. Based on the experience to which you have accustomed and taught me,” he said.
Lukashenka added that the United States is raising the issue of the release of political prisoners.
“Yes, they want to release them. I jokingly told them: ‘Guys, I understand you — you want to free those whom you once hired to overthrow us.
Well, are we going to live like this and stand against each other? Times are changing. We have to live. And the issue is not about me. The issue is about the country.
Yes, they keep pushing this topic of political prisoners, including at the suggestion of our fugitives. Fine: 100, 200… I don’t know how many there are. Their number is constantly increasing,” he said.
Lukashenka added that “such people are not expelled, but they must obey the law.”
“So that you have no complaints about them and, God forbid, they are not imprisoned again. I say: ‘They will be imprisoned. As soon as they violate the letter of the law — just like everyone else.’ What, a minister was jailed yesterday or the day before, and we should look at them differently? The law is the same for everyone. If you break the law — go. That is the frank conversation. If they want to stay — please. But within the existing legal framework,” he said.