Lukashenko: we’re committed to creation only
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko called the laying of the capsule at the construction site of the city clinical hospital in Grodno a message to both descendants and neighbours
The Head of State explained this idea, “While I was walking to this site, I caught myself thinking that we are also now digging the ground, like them, very close to the border. Only our goals are completely different. They dig trenches and boost expenditures for strike weapons while we earmark two-thirds of the regional budget to the social sphere: healthcare, education, culture, sports, etc. We want to build our own peaceful future. We’re committed to creation only. Don’t believe anyone saying that we want to fight. We’re preparing for war, and I speak about this openly. It is not me who said that ‘if you want peace, prepare for war’. This is really true. We’re preparing for war.”
According to the Head of State, the country is conducting the necessary training of the relevant units, and various types of weapons and equipment are being supplied to the troops. The West reacts nervously to this. In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “If someone from there criticises us, you should know that we are doing the right thing. If they start praising us, it’s a trouble.”
The President underlined that Belarus does not threaten anyone, “We don’t need to threaten anyone. We don’t want someone else’s land. May God help us cultivate the land we have... We have big plans, and we will do a lot more with you. Most importantly, we must make sure that our children do much more – based on what we have already done. We have to ensue some head start for our children. These are our children. They are more valuable to us than we are to ourselves.”
The President stressed that a unique healthcare facility of strategic importance with flexible functionality is being built, “Everything here has been well-thought-out: modern conditions, convenient access for residents of neighbouring regions, good connections. How often the current governor, former minister [of healthcare], said that it’s a ‘golden hour’. The current healthcare minister has been tasked to do everything to prevent people from complaining about our healthcare sector.”
The Head of State explained that it is important now to ensure stable operation of this system of the ‘golden hour’ – when patients are delivered to a medical facility, “We’ll regulate this. This is the responsibility of the heads of healthcare organisations.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted that he had long planned to visit the western region of the country and addressed local residents, “Once again I want to tell you on behalf of the first person that you are our people. We won’t give you to anyone.”
The President recalled how many years ago he – a young politician at that time – was asked by Grodno residents to settle the issue of crossing the border, enabling people from border areas to travel to neighbouring states to visit their relatives. This was done from the Belarusian side. However, the access has been now made more difficult for Belarusians by neighbouring countries, “Now they have cut themselves off from us with a fence. You see it’s not my fault; it’s their policy. They’re aggravating the situation. They’re just stealing.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that money for such undertakings is stolen much more than such projects truly cost. The same refers to militarisation. Against this background, Belarus, on the contrary, is open to visitors and has introduced a visa-free regime, but our Western neighbours began to scare their own citizens with the likelihood of recruitment in Belarus.
“Nothing of the sort! I don’t need this recruitment. Who recruits like that? We have already recruited those whom we need,” the President responded.
The President concluded, “We will survive this. We want a peaceful life... I constantly repeat that we don’t need someone else’s. Cast no greedy eye at another man’s pie: that’s what people said, and I learnt it well from my village life. I don’t want anything that belongs to others. I always say: don’t touch someone else’s, it won’t do any good. And I want to tell you not to touch someone else’s. Sooner or later this will bring only trouble. I want you, your children and grandchildren to live in a calm and peaceful country. As long as I am President, as long as my aides work here and throughout the country, we’ll pursue this policy.”
