27.08.2018
Lukashenko: Nothing secretive about meeting with Putin in Sochi
MINSK (BelTA) – There was nothing conspiratorial or secretive about the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on 22 August, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview to Belarus 1 TV channel on 26 August, BelTA has learned.
“The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere. There was nothing conspiratorial or secretive about the meeting,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko said that he and Vladimir Putin paid primary attention to international issues, including the relations with the United States, the situation in that country and the policy of President Donald Trump. The Russian leader spoke about his recent talks with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and his private visit to the Austrian minister's wedding. The parties also discussed the cooperation in the CSTO in light of the recent situation around current CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov.
The two presidents also discussed the Belarusian-Russian cooperation. The issues included difficulties with the Belarusian food supplies, the payment of the recycling fee on engineering goods, an unfair situation on the road transport market, the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant and many more.
“Some media say we discussed oil, gas and loan issues. We did not touch on the future of oil, gas and loans at all. We already made decisions on those matters. As for oil and gas, we are acting within the framework of those decisions. As for the loans, we have not yet received the remaining part of the EAEU loan according to the agreement. This is also a matter for discussion. We, however, did not discuss this issue at the meeting. I think we will discuss it in the future. We will make the final decision on the issue during the next meeting,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
"The meeting did not last long. We agreed to discuss all the issues at a meeting with government members,” said the Belarusian leader.
In the interview, the head of state stressed that all the agreements reached between the two countries were fulfilled. “This is a good feature for any state, especially such a large state as Russia. If the agreement is signed, it must be implemented. Failed agreements mean no trust. We just want to see our agreements implemented,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko also said that he had asked Vladimir Putin to tell what Russia wanted from Belarus. "Are you not interested in it? You are currently looking into the Belarusian-Russian relations and see that our agreements fail. They are not fulfilled,” the Belarusian leader said.
“Everyone asks this question. We would like to receive answers from the Russian authorities, first of all. We know the true attitude of Russians to us. They want to be friends with us. These are close people to us. We would like to know what Russia wants from Belarus. We need to understand it and discuss all the issues related to the matter. Belarus is Russia's closest and most reliable ally today,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The president cited one more example from the energy agreements that were reached at the highest level in St. Petersburg in April 2018: "Russia set a gas price for us higher (excluding export duties) than for Germany, if we calculate mileage, supplies, transit, and so on. The situation was very complicated. I even refused to attend one of the EAEU summits then. We, together with Vladimir Putin, found a way out through oil. We agreed that we could sell 6 million tonnes of oil and add customs duties to our budget. This was agreed upon when oil prices were $40-50. And what happened then? Oil prices went up, and we earned more money than Russian experts and the Russian government expected.
“We signed an agreement. If the oil price reduced, we would get less. But we earned more and Russians stopped transferring funds in violation of the agreements,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko noted these are not some gifts to Belarus on the part of Russia. “We provide some response services to the Russian Federation. I often say, that if speaking in general about these services then Russians are better off in Belarus than in some parts of Russia. It is worth a lot. The Russians never feel the difference between Russia and Belarus. In Belarus they are even better off. I can list the things ranging from military bases and other things to transit, borders and defense issues. These are not for free. These are not gifts. But a violation has happened. We discussed it. You cannot do things like this. If we have a question, let us sit down and discuss this issue,” the head of state said.
“Or another example. They reproach us saying that our companies buy dark oil products such as oil and other gas oils and process them domestically and sell them on the international market. So what's new here? We buy goods and pay for them. We also buy metals, spare parts, produce MTZ tractors and sell them. They do not reproach us for this,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.
“The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere. There was nothing conspiratorial or secretive about the meeting,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko said that he and Vladimir Putin paid primary attention to international issues, including the relations with the United States, the situation in that country and the policy of President Donald Trump. The Russian leader spoke about his recent talks with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and his private visit to the Austrian minister's wedding. The parties also discussed the cooperation in the CSTO in light of the recent situation around current CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov.
The two presidents also discussed the Belarusian-Russian cooperation. The issues included difficulties with the Belarusian food supplies, the payment of the recycling fee on engineering goods, an unfair situation on the road transport market, the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant and many more.
“Some media say we discussed oil, gas and loan issues. We did not touch on the future of oil, gas and loans at all. We already made decisions on those matters. As for oil and gas, we are acting within the framework of those decisions. As for the loans, we have not yet received the remaining part of the EAEU loan according to the agreement. This is also a matter for discussion. We, however, did not discuss this issue at the meeting. I think we will discuss it in the future. We will make the final decision on the issue during the next meeting,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
"The meeting did not last long. We agreed to discuss all the issues at a meeting with government members,” said the Belarusian leader.
In the interview, the head of state stressed that all the agreements reached between the two countries were fulfilled. “This is a good feature for any state, especially such a large state as Russia. If the agreement is signed, it must be implemented. Failed agreements mean no trust. We just want to see our agreements implemented,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko also said that he had asked Vladimir Putin to tell what Russia wanted from Belarus. "Are you not interested in it? You are currently looking into the Belarusian-Russian relations and see that our agreements fail. They are not fulfilled,” the Belarusian leader said.
“Everyone asks this question. We would like to receive answers from the Russian authorities, first of all. We know the true attitude of Russians to us. They want to be friends with us. These are close people to us. We would like to know what Russia wants from Belarus. We need to understand it and discuss all the issues related to the matter. Belarus is Russia's closest and most reliable ally today,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The president cited one more example from the energy agreements that were reached at the highest level in St. Petersburg in April 2018: "Russia set a gas price for us higher (excluding export duties) than for Germany, if we calculate mileage, supplies, transit, and so on. The situation was very complicated. I even refused to attend one of the EAEU summits then. We, together with Vladimir Putin, found a way out through oil. We agreed that we could sell 6 million tonnes of oil and add customs duties to our budget. This was agreed upon when oil prices were $40-50. And what happened then? Oil prices went up, and we earned more money than Russian experts and the Russian government expected.
“We signed an agreement. If the oil price reduced, we would get less. But we earned more and Russians stopped transferring funds in violation of the agreements,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko noted these are not some gifts to Belarus on the part of Russia. “We provide some response services to the Russian Federation. I often say, that if speaking in general about these services then Russians are better off in Belarus than in some parts of Russia. It is worth a lot. The Russians never feel the difference between Russia and Belarus. In Belarus they are even better off. I can list the things ranging from military bases and other things to transit, borders and defense issues. These are not for free. These are not gifts. But a violation has happened. We discussed it. You cannot do things like this. If we have a question, let us sit down and discuss this issue,” the head of state said.
“Or another example. They reproach us saying that our companies buy dark oil products such as oil and other gas oils and process them domestically and sell them on the international market. So what's new here? We buy goods and pay for them. We also buy metals, spare parts, produce MTZ tractors and sell them. They do not reproach us for this,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.