Belarus President: CIS should be preserved and developed

Alexander Lukashenko said: "Sometimes people ask whether there was any sense in the existence of the Commonwealth of Independent States and if there is any sense now. Those, who ask, point out that many countries are now aligned with different centers of power. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are busy building the Eurasian Economic Union. Ukraine, Moldova, and partially Armenia try to expand relations with the European Union. China's influence grows by the hour in Central Asia. Let me tell you something that may seem paradoxical. The fact that the CIS states pursue different policies does not weaken but strengthens the need for a uniting mechanism. A common platform for dialogue is a significant part of it".

The Belarus President said he was convinced that it is necessary to keep the Commonwealth of Independent States as a platform for making concrete decisions. "When we discuss the problem in private, we start criticizing the CIS and its ineffectiveness operation right up to losing any interest in the CIS at all. I always say don't hurry because it takes little effort to disband it. But later on it would be very difficult to get together," Alexander Lukashenko is convinced. In his words, it is natural that some CIS states "try to find their happiness overseas". But it does not mean that the Commonwealth of Independent States should be forgotten. "If we now disband, destroy the Commonwealth, which exists as a platform for meetings, negotiations, making decisions, what will happen when many of us have failed to find their luck overseas and try to resume talking about common topics?" asked Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state believes that after the USSR collapse there was no alternative to creating a new association. "The Soviet Union was a great state, a colossal geopolitical force that directly influenced destinies of the world. Such a state could not disappear without a trace: the influence of economic, cultural, and spiritual ties that evolved in the USSR was too strong for that. Therefore, the transition to a new association - the Commonwealth of Independent States - was absolutely natural and determined by history," noted the President. Alexander Lukashenko said he was convinced that destroying solid and effectively working ties had been a bad idea. It was necessary to promote integration in the post-Soviet space but on a new political and economic foundation as a community of equal sovereign nations.

The head of state believes that one should not keep looking behind one's back at the European Union all the time as far as integration processes are concerned. "We should learn to treasure more the things that we have had for a long time. In many aspects Europe is still on its way to unity. It has a lot to overcome yet to achieve that goal. Our countries have colossal historical experience of living together," said Alexander Lukashenko. Unlike the European Union, which nations had never lived in a single association, the CIS states have this experience and it gives them an advantage. "Since the Soviet times we have been united by a common economic blood system - the common power grid and the pipeline network, motorways and railroads, communications although we have not learned yet how to use all of that for the benefit of all the CIS states. Our manufacturing cooperation ties are still irreplaceable for many enterprises and provide millions of jobs," noted the President. As an example he mentioned that enterprises in Belarus provide jobs for some 7 million people in Russia, BelTA reports.

Apart from that, there are no insurmountable psychological barriers between the CIS nations. "Our integration association is indeed a commonwealth: all the members are united by a common history, common educational standards, the rich Soviet culture and the great Russian language," said the President.

Addressing participants of the meeting, Alexander Lukashenko reminded that it was held in the run-up to the summit of CIS leaders that will take place in Minsk. Alexander Lukashenko called upon reporters, heads of CIS mass media, who, he believes, create the public opinion and often influence the pace of history, to have a meeting in the shape of an open talk without forbidden topics. "Your thoughts about the future of the Commonwealth of Independent States and what we - politicians and reporters - can do together for our peoples are extremely important for me," said the President.

"Let me tell you right away that I do not claim the possession of absolute truth. A prominent Russian classicist once noted: big things are seen from a distance. It is quite possible that a lot of time has yet to pass for people, politicians, and historians to be able to give precise and fair opinions about the Commonwealth," noted Alexander Lukashenko.