А. Lukashenko meets with heads of Belarusian foreign missions at Palace of Independence

20 июля 2021

Foreign trade is task number one. Such an emphasys was laid today by the President for the Belarusian diplomats, who represent the interests of our country abroad. Alexander Lukashenko met with the heads of the diplomatic missions in person at the Palace of Independence. The events of this format are held from time to time at the highest level. Europe, Asia, Africa, America - it is time to set diplomatic priorities beneficial for our country, taking into account several key aspects. Belarus is an open country and has felt the consequences of the global crisis. Plus, the political factor: the color blitzkrieg of 2020 supervised by external competitors.

А. Lukashenko: "The foreign policy strategy needs adjustments. The sanctions should not affect the development of our country, in spite of all the difficulties. The key is in the active work in those markets, which are ready to cooperate on an equal and respectful basis. It is also necessary to use more actively the mechanisms of international organizations in order to protect domestic enterprises. Special attention should be paid to human resources. Belarus needs practicing diplomats, who are not afraid of defending the honor of their country."

The President instructed to give a real assessment of the ambassadors' contribution to the development of relations with other countries and, if necessary, to propose staffing solutions.

Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus: "Today we need practical diplomats, experts in their field, patriots who are not afraid of making claims and defending the honor of their country. You are fighters today, but without weapons."

A topic that never leaves the front pages of the international media is refugees. The focus of attention has shifted these days from the West to the East of the European continent. Migrants who found themselves in the territory of Lithuania faced inhumane treatment. Detention conditions can be compared to concentration camps. In addition, there are reports of people being forcibly sent to the territory of Belarus. On July 19, we learned about such a group of 26 migrants. They are mostly women and children. According to them, they were beaten in the border area (in the territory of the EU) and expelled from Lithuania with weapons. Many had already sought medical assistance in our country. A pregnant woman was among the victims! The compatriots of the people, who fled from the war, reacted  to this incident.

Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:

"Do you know what was happening this morning? As soon as the Middle East, Iraq and other countries, even Turkey, saw the footage of the incident with a group of injured migrants, the KGB and the police are already working on my behalf to prevent people from coming here with weapons, they are rushing here with weapons. "Why did you hurt a pregnant woman?" - is one question they have. And you know, these are radical Muslims. And do they expect me to keep these armed Iraqis and Kurds and others here on the border? Don't think I'm going to keep them here. I'm warning you frankly and honestly. So before you take any steps, think about who you're up against... You destroyed Iraq, the richest country in the world. In the name of what? Bringing democracy under the wings of fighter jets? There is no democracy there.      You destroyed Afghanistan and pulled out the troops. You know what happens there. And people are fleeing the war, saving their children to get a piece of bread somewhere and feed them. You called them there, so why are you, like Nazis, pushing them out now?"

Meanwhile, they are trying to use a new round of the migration crisis against Belarus. Calls for the introduction of the fifth package of sanctions are heard. The previous four didn't bring any effect and this is the main answer of Belarus to the economic pressure of the collective West.

Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Belarus: "The world is now free from the technological dictatorship of one state or another, except for a very narrow range of areas. Therefore, we are working to replace the supplies to the Belarusian enterprises from those countries that have joined the sanctions. We are working on import substitution, mastering the production of certain products in Belarus."

The situation in the world today is described by the President with one succinct word "war". It has not yet acquired the outlines of a hot conflict; it is being conducted in the offices, the media, social networks, the economy. A striking example is the sanctions policy against Belarus. And the main task in such conditions, as at the front, is to withstand and win.