Why is the West shooting itself in the foot again?

This week, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has paid a state visit to China. The programme of the visit of the Belarusian leader to China was intense. We will tell you the details in the next issue of The MT. On the eve of the visit, the Belarusian Head of State gave an interview to the Chinese media — the Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group. We bring to your attention the key statements and quotes of the Belarusian leader.

During an interview the journalists were primarily interested in dynamics of relations between China and Belarus, their history and prospects. They asked about trade and economic co-operation and major joint projects that are underway in Belarus, including the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone and the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation (BNBC), as well as new opportunities in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also answered questions about the geopolitical processes taking place in the world. The focus was on the conflict in Ukraine, the possibility of peaceful settlement.
Speaking about the role of China in solving international problems, the Head of State stressed that he assesses it very simply: no problem in the world can be resolved without China nowadays. 
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus maintains the same stance, In an interview with Chinese media, the Head of State spoke about a Chinese civilian balloon recently shot down by the Americans.
“You understand well what the situation in the world is today. China will not be left in peace. China is the main rival of the United States. The Americans do not hide this. It is sad that they stoop so low,” the Belarusian leader said.
The Head of State explained that we are talking about a Chinese civilian balloon shot down by the Americans, “They put on a show like Americans always do. They made a big deal out of nothing to convince their society of the ‘danger’ of that Chinese object. When the attention of 300 million people, Americans, was glued to that object, they shot it down. For what? The election campaign is round the corner. They did it to show their heroism… True, then all the people figured out that it was just an unfriendly step towards China. The Chinese immediately declared that it was a civilian balloon. We could figure out together what it is. No, they demonstratively destroyed it. This is a very unfriendly move.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed confidence that the conflict in Ukraine was inevitable and its root causes did not lie in Russia. Bullying of Russian-speaking people, of the Russian language. It happened before 2014. And all of it had been ramped up by Western countries. Naturally, no country, neither America nor China would allow their compatriots to be bullied. People, who simply speak Russian and live according to Russian customs. People, who accept Russian culture. Moreover, vitriol from the side of Ukraine went all the way to the President of Russia and the entire Russian leadership. There is an entire bunch over there,” the Head of State explained.
The President remarked that many people in Russia failed to comprehend actions of the country’s leadership. 
“I always tell Russians: don’t be hasty, time will come, and you will evaluate who is right and who is wrong. Some people in Russia say: you know, Russia was a bit hasty to start this military operation. But I say it was inevitable. The conflict in Ukraine was inevitable. If Russia had not forestalled this war from the side of Ukraine (now it is understandable who was interested in this war and who started it), if Russia had not preempted Ukraine’s actions and actions of the entire West from Ukraine’s territory, consequences would be more severe,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised. 
The President stressed that in the event of aggression against Belarus from the territory of Ukraine, the war would take on a completely different character. The President stressed that the people of Belarus are very peace-loving, “We know what war is. Napoleon passed through our territory during his march to Russia leaving Belarus in ruins. The World War I theatre of operations was here. In terms of the World War II (the Great Patriotic War for us) the theatre of military operations was mainly in Belarus. We have absolutely no intentions to attack Ukraine. But God forbid aggression against the Belarusian state is committed from the territory of Ukraine. In this case we will be forced to respond. And I am sure that if this happens we will receive support from the entire international community, including the People’s Republic of China. If aggression is committed against us. We communicate this through various channels to Ukraine, including to the West. I warned them that if the territory of Belarus is attacked from the territory of Ukraine, we will respond, but it will be a completely different war. It will instantly take on a different character. We will resist and defend our land and fight against the aggressor, including together with the troops of the Russian Federation. Together,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko left an autographed wish for Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group

At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: in recent days the Belarusians have not spotted any significant military build up on the territory of Poland, or Lithuania, or especially Ukraine that would look like preparations to drag us into the war. And the Belarusian side positively assess this matter. 
In an interview with Chinese journalists, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised that the pressure of sanctions will not produce anything while mean tricks in the sphere of economy on the part of some neighbouring countries represent a self-inflicted wound, “They are starting to play mean tricks in the sphere of economy. They closed borders to truck traffic. They shot themselves in the foot. We didn’t really travel much to Western Europe as it is. But a lot of trucks and trains travelled from the territory of the European Union via Poland to China, Kazakhstan, and other destinations. It was cost-efficient for them. Their drivers went to China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. They won’t now. If we close the border from our side, then thousands of people will be out of work.”

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
Photos by BELTA