Lukashenko: resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict should be beneficial to both sides
The resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be beneficial to both sides – as stated by Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko as he met with the secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO member states in Minsk on June 8th
The President noted, “Azerbaijanis and Armenians are like relatives, they are like two fingers on one hand. Anything could be done with this, but it’s true.”
Speaking about this, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how much effort he had made to settle the conflict between the parties in recent years, trying to establish co-operation between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, “Everything has become more complicated now, but we need to take it calmly and sort out this situation. In this case, of course, I support Nikola Vovaevich [Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia]. I understand that all these problems have fallen on this government, on him. Therefore, [we need] patience and attempts to find a solution to the issue – so that it would be beneficial to both Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
Belarus is chairing the CSTO in 2023, and Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the country will strive to help Armenia and Azerbaijan settle the disputed issues. The President added that conflicts in the CSTO space, especially armed ones, must be resolved. “We cannot look calmly at conflicts in our CSTO space, especially when they are armed ones. They should not be neglected. They are complicated. Our brothers are there, we once lived in the same country,” he said.
According to the Belarusian leader, the secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO member states should also make their proposals as chief assistants to the heads of state on defence and security issues. “The President of Russia and I will meet in the near future. I will definitely inform on our meeting. He knows that I am meeting with you today. He will meet with the prime ministers tomorrow [Sochi is hosting a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government these days]. We will discuss all these issues and try, maybe, to offer something appropriate to you. Meanwhile, I repeat once again: there should be reasonable, sensible initiatives from you. For God's sake, do not quarrel with each other. We will still have the opportunity to quarrel with many parties: you see how they are trying to pull us apart. I will rather not speak in detail,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
