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Belarusian-Polish relations will be "normal" irrespective of who wins Poland`s presidential election, Lukashenka says

Belarusian-Polish relations will be "normal" irrespective of who wins the Poland`s presidential election on June 20, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told reporters Friday while staying in the Shklow district, Mahilyow region, as quoted by BelaPAN.

"We don`t care who becomes president there," Mr. Lukashenka said. "I believe that none of the candidates is a stupid person. And they, like me, understand that neighbors are from God. And whoever becomes president there, they will have to develop normal relations with Belarus."

According to Mr. Lukashenka, Polish politicians realize that Belarus is a very important country for them both in terms of bilateral trade and economic relations and in terms of relations with Russia. Polish businesspeople understand that economic cooperation with the East begins in Belarus, he said.

"That is why, whoever comes to power in Poland, they will understand that one shouldn`t fight with the Belarusians," Mr. Lukashenka said. "It`s necessary to be friends with the Belarusians and gain respective benefits."

Poland called an early election after the death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in Russia on April 10.