Lukashenka: If the West decides to lend a hand, why not accept it? (video)

The state leader made a number of loud statements on Tuesday. He presented the new head of the National Bank, Pavel Kalavur, and commented on the financial situation in the country. Lukashenka spoke about the state apparatus, officials and the international policy when presenting the new head of the President’s Administration – Alyaksandr Kosinets.

Belarus will be trying to normalize its relations with the West on equal terms but no other country can replace Russia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.

"The West is our neighbor and we do not want any clashes – be they political or diplomatic. Half of our trade is there,” RIA Novosti quotes Lukashenka. “If the West lends us a helping hand and would like to cooperate, we will make use of it. If they want equal cooperation, we will accept this signal.”

Belarus ‘will not do anything that could bad to brotherly Russia’, the state leader stressed.

2015 will be a difficult year for our country, Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted. He does not want any external pressure exercised on Belarus ‘from the East and from the West’ in the year of presidential elections.

Photo: АР