Lukashenko: Common Eurasian Space is meant for universal integration

"It is quite interesting to see two permanent topics in the opposition press like Lukashenko gives sovereignty away to Russia and Lukashenko reluctant to give anything in Belarus to Russia. These themes are explored and discussed by the same publications and sometimes by the same authors. The recent debates have centered on an ambitious project of the common Euro-Asian space. Again they started talking about giving away sovereignty, the loss of independence and other things of the kind. I believe that today, ahead of Independence Day, we must dot all the "i"s in this very much important theme," the President said.

According to the head of state, the modern world becomes more interdependent and reminds him a glass house where one careless move can destroy both the wall and the roof. "Any compromise between the countries is just a concession in exchange for something important for your state," the President said.

Speaking about the philosophy of building up a new Eurasian space, Alexander Lukashenko stated that it holds many delusions. "Many believe that creating the Eurasian Union our politicians look to the past. For instance, this idea is some kind of a reincarnation of Genghis Khan's prairie empire for Kazakhstan, a rebirth of the empire of the Russian tsars for Moscow, and a return into the renewed USSR for Belarus. They also think that this new Eurasian integration will make an aggressive center of power, will make a counterbalance and a block to someone. In reality all supporters of this integration are inspired by different ideas," the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that two powerful economic poles are formed in the west and the east: the European Union and the Eastern-Asian Region (that includes China and Japan). "It looks as if the geography itself says there is a need for a link between these poles. That is why the Common Eurasian Space is a bold, global, yet very first step. We are building it not for a closed market and not to confront or isolate someone, but for further integration with the European Union in the west and vibrant Asian economies in the east," the head of state said.

This, according to Alexander Lukashenko, differs a new Eurasian project from well-known historical analogies: the Mongolian khanate, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. "As in the case with our independence, the Eurasian project is inspired by the future, not the past. It is set up as an integration association of the 21st century. That means it will have no metropolises and colonies well-known to us from the textbooks on history. It will be based on the equality of rights and opportunities," the President added, BelTA reports.