English

Minsk has accepted nearly all of EU demands, Lukashenka claims

The Belarusian government has accepted “nearly all of Europe’s 12 demands” but ensured that this “does not harm our domestic policy,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed at a government conference on the improvement of electoral regulations on November 10, BelaPAN said.

The Belarusian authorities take the European Union’s criticism of the country’s electoral regulations calmly, he said.

“At a recent meeting with the EU leadership I told them that we have no allergy to, no rejection of the demands made by the European Union. We simply need a bit of time,” Mr. Lukashenka said.

“Putting pressure on us is counterproductive and Europe understands this. We are a sovereign state and develop our foreign and domestic policies independently, taking, of course, the best of the world experience into account,” he noted.

Mr. Lukashenka said that the EU, the United States and Russia told Minsk about the need to “adjust the country’s regulations.” “We are not against being prompted. But I stress once again that we will create all conditions to preserve the country’s stability and manageability. And for the situation not to be destabilized, everything must be in compliance with the Belarusian constitution,” he warned.

Mr. Lukashenka noted that “elections must be honest, fair and open.” “And if the country’s laws must be improved for this, this must be done promptly. We must make a basic decision on the subject as early as today. It is desirable that our parliament introduce the appropriate amendments to national regulations at this session and information about them is promptly provided to voters,” he said.

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that the changes to the electoral laws did not mean “that we will stop dealing with the economy, specific aspects of people’s life at once.” “Don’t pay attention to this squeaking and squealing both within the country and abroad. We must work and do our business calmly,” he said.

Mr. Lukashenka expressed certainty that the proposed election reforms would not require constitutional changes.

The Belarusian leader warned against political disturbances and “anarchy” in the next elections. “I want to caution that the consideration of the possibility of these changes should not start some campaigns of political saber rattling. Because if we begin dealing with this now, amid economic hardships, we will hardly get out of this state,” he said.