Belarus and Russia are ready to solve all problems in bilateral relations, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said yesterday at a meeting with the Governor of the Moscow Region Boris Gromov. “We understand, and the Kremlin understands, that we absolutely do not need any confrontation, problems or difficulties. We have enough people who create these difficulties,” the president said. Last week, Mr. Lukashenko spoke about the connections of the Belarusian opposition with certain forces in Russia and their negative impact on cooperation between Minsk and Moscow: “The centers of these opposition clans are located in Russia. We will show you and the West how selfish a position individual figures can take. One fact is that whoever pays them money is the one they work for.”
Minsk is most concerned about the reduction in Russian economic support and problems with access of Belarusian goods to the Russian market. Yesterday, Alexander Lukashenko expressed hope for a quick resolution of controversial issues: “We stumbled a little, but recent consultations with representatives of the government of the Russian Federation, my personal contacts with the President of Russia indicate that both we and Russia have enormous potential and the desire to come out from the situation." According to the Belarusian leader, Minsk and Moscow once quickly moved towards rapprochement, “then we took small steps, but we are doing concrete work, creating equal conditions for our people and business entities.” Olga TOMASHEVSKAYA, Minsk | 