It is essential for Belarus to balance between West and East, Haydukevich says

It is vitally important for Belarus to maintain a balance between the West and the East and be a kind of Eastern Slavic Switzerland, presidential candidate Syarhey Haydukevich, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, said in a campaign address broadcast on television on Thursday evening.

Belarus should clearly realize that the West is its partner, while Russia is its ally, he said.

According to Mr. Haydukevich, Belarus has managed to establish itself as a truly sovereign state since the acquisition of formal independence in 1991. “The Belarusians want to live in a sovereign, independent, strong country,” he said. “Belarus should be strong. Only a strong Belarus will be reckoned with.”

Mr. Haydukevich claimed that “part of the radical opposition” is trying to sour Belarus` relations with the West and even calling for sanctions against its own country and people. “Even now some of them, having failed to collect the 100,000 signatures necessary for registration, cannot admit their total ineptitude and continue to grovel and ask Europe with groans to impose new sanctions,” he said.

Mr. Haydukevich shamed politicians who call for integration into Europe and the adoption of European identity. “How should one dislike and disrespect one’s people to say such things?” he wondered. “And where are we situated then? We’re at the very center of Europe. Belarus is an integral part of Europe not only geographically but also spiritually and culturally. We, the Belarusians, are Europeans! The Belarusians are a self-sufficient European nation!”