Lukashenko on imminent launch of First Information TV Channel
When being reported on topical issues of the country’s information policy, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the imminent launch of the First Information TV Channel, which was presented at the Belteleradiocompany the day before
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that a lot has been said about the creation of such an information TV channel, “Honour and glory to you that you have decided to implement this idea on your own. When I set this task for you, I thought that you would also attract foreigners in order to create all this. But when you said you would do it yourself, I agreed, thinking that we would be able to improve if we underperform somewhere. Just like you, I’m very worried about how people will perceive all this. Much has been talked about it, but I’d like to hear something that hasn’t been mentioned. What are the problems in this regard? Be sure to do as much as possible today so that it is a real Belarusian channel, without any lies. We have enough topics that are beneficial to us. It is very advantageous for us to show them as they are.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko cited the migration problem as an example, “We have nothing to hide in this regard. Yes, propagandists will promote our migration policy in the sense that we were open to Europe, preventing even a mouse from crawling across our border unnoticed. We are reproached for moving away from this policy. But we have said this for a long time that we will not pursue the migration policy that we once carried out.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the West once financed the creation of migration accommodation facilities on the territory of Belarus, but then cancelled co-operation and imposed sanctions against Belarus.
“They have changed their policy and began to strangle us economically, politically, and informationally. Why should we protect them in terms of migration policy? We have honestly and frankly said that we will not pursue the policy that we used to. I said figuratively: by putting a noose around my neck and the neck of the Belarusian people, do you want to be protected? We will not do this. Why should we fabricate something and lie? What for? We will show the true politics.”
