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Lukashenka promises energy independence in five years

Issues related to Belarus' energy security will be solved within the next five years, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said while presenting state awards to a group of people in Minsk on March 26.

"We must ensure our country's security," the Belarusian leader's press office quoted him as saying. "And the basis of our security - and to our great regret it is historically so - depends on energy issues. That's why we are looking for funds, new technologies across the world so actively. Of course, I'm waiting for new ideas from our researchers, designers."

"We need new technologies. We must finally cease to be dependent - so that they don't kick us constantly, noting that we live off someone," Mr. Lukashenka stressed.

He noted that the Belarusians "must prove that we are a civilized, educated, strong-spirited people capable of building our life in a way that we want."

"You must understand: everything that we, and above all I, are doing today is aimed at preserving our country's sovereignty. This is an extremely important problem that is being solved today," Mr. Lukashenka said.

"There are practically no such places like Belarus left in the world. All have joined something or have been incorporated by something. All states - small, medium-sized and larger than medium-sized - are dancing to somebody's tune. Of course, we realize that being White Russia is not that easy today and independence does not come that easy. But we must do our utmost to preserve our state."

Mr. Lukashenka noted that "our people has deserved to have its own piece of land on this planet, so that our children and grandchildren do not reproach us for failing to keep and pass them this land - a corner where they will always be able to come, where they will always be waited for by their relatives and loved ones."

"And we are looking for our happiness where they treat us normally, accept, respect us and pay a worthy price for our work," Mr. Lukashenka said.//BelaPAN