BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/07/2007

Lukashenko complains of unprecedented external pressure

MINSK. July 5 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said external pressure on Belarus is mounting in all areas.

"The situation surrounding Belarus is not becoming any safer. Unprecedented pressure has been increasing in all areas: political, informational and economical," Lukashenko told graduates of the Belarusian Military Academy's Command Department and Russian military academies in Minsk on Thursday.

"The military threat to the state has not been diminishing as well. This is linked to the expansion of NATO and the planned deployment of the elements of the U.S. national missile defense in countries neighboring Belarus," the president said.

Despite the fact, Belarus "will maintain stability and high rates of social and economic development, thanks to the fact that Belarusians have become even more consolidated and have mobilized their forces to achieve the strategic goal - the construction of a strong state," Lukashenko said.

"We will not allow anyone to dictate his condition, the way we should live and work. Only we, the citizens of the country, have the right to decide on the way we should develop, who we should be friends with and who we should cooperate with," the president said.

"We did not allow to make us involved in none of the political adventures over the time we have been independent, we did not got stuck in international conflicts, Belarus has gradually been pursuing a multifaceted peaceful policy. But we will take the necessary measures to guarantee our national security, primarily in the defense and military areas," Lukashenko said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/290335/news.aspx

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