Lukashenko: Belarus has nothing to do with the worsened relations with Ukraine

MINSK, Feb.14, (ST) – Belarus is not involved in the worsening of relations with Ukraine, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with well-known Ukrainian politician and statesman Alexander Moroz on 14 February, BelTA has learned.

“As for our relations, I think there is no point in telling you about them. It makes no sense to analyze them in terms of who is right and who is wrong. You, as an experienced man, understand everything very well. You understand what is going on. Once again, I want to tell you publicly that we have nothing to do with the aggravation of our relations. We have been pursuing a clear, understandable policy for the Ukrainian people. I still stick to this policy. We are close-knit people, we are neighbors. Our future must be shaped like our neighbors’,” said the head of state.

Addressing Alexander Moroz, the head of state thanked him for remaining committed to his ideas: “I remember our meetings and conversations very well. I will tell you frankly, there were a lot of different people in politics back then. I hoped you would not get lost. There was a wide range of opinions. You remember it well, too. I am very glad we are meeting today because you have preserved your courage and tenacity, have not lost your convictions in the complicated situation around us – around Ukraine, Belarus.”

In turn, Alexander Moroz said that about 200,000 Ukrainians, who have moved to and now live in Belarus, are the proof of the words the president said about the relations with Ukraine. “I answered many such questions in Ukraine when I talked to my fellow compatriots. I am in Belarus for the second time over the past four months. What I see is nothing to compare with. There is a feeling that the state is developing, and is doing this successfully,” he said.

The Ukrainian politician also said that while he was in hospital, he wrote a book called In the Red Zone. It has a conclusion that the whole Ukraine is in the “red zone” today. “Here it is very important to know what the disease is, what the diagnosis is, what the treatment protocol is. I spoke frankly about this at home during rare meetings with our journalists (as I understand, they are not supposed to do this today). The main diagnosis is statelessness, the dependence on external management,” said Alexander Moroz.

In the times of the Soviet Union, Alexander Moroz worked in various roles within the Communist Party of Ukraine, was secretary of the Kiev Regional Union of Trade Unions, headed the agrarian department of the Kiev Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, worked as the first secretary of the party committee of regional organizations and institutions.

In 1990-2007 he was member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He was chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of the second and fifth convocations. For several years he led the Socialist Party of Ukraine.

Source: BelTA