Łukašenka plays down economic problems during meeting with Putin

April 5, BPN. “Whoever hopes or predicted that we would collapse, [know that] we haven’t collapsed at all,” said Alaksandr Łukašenka at a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 5.

“Yes, it will not be easy. But when was it easy? We will withstand and make it even in microelectronics, which you and I discussed in your office a year ago. It turns out that we’ve found an opportunity to work in that field as well,” Łukašenka said, as quoted by his press office. “Missiles fly and military vehicles move in both our countries. So, we’ll overcome everything, we just need a little time.”

In his opinion, when it comes to integration, he and Putin “have certainly earned their salaries.”

Łukašenka said officials implemented 80 percent of activities in the framework of the 28 integration programs. “If they stumbled and stopped, we immediately met and made decisions to put them into motion to implement these programs,” he said.

According to Łukašenka, issues requiring resolution are brought to his and Putin’s attention.

“The working class turns us towards import substitution,” he said. “They [westerners] threatened us with hunger and cold. But Russia has nowhere to put its bread today. Has it ever had such a huge harvest? So, there will be the same situation in the industry.”