'Big Talk' with Lukashenka: live text
A few minutes before the Big Talk.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka will organize a Big Talk with journalists and experts on March 1. It is expected to last for 4.5 hours – the air time has been reserved on Belarus-1.
Euroradio reporter Zmitser Lukashuk has been invited to the Big Talk. Euroradio will be making an online report at the exhibition centre Belexpro trying to note down everything that Alyaksandr Lukashenka will say:
13:40
Lukashenka: “To be honest, I do not cherish many hopes for the Eurasian Economic Union. There are too many disputes, too much impressment and so on.”
12:39
The restaurant “Poedem, Poedim” will not be closed down. There is no reason to do it.”
12:32
No concert at the stadium “Dynama” on March 25
"As for the 101th anniversary of the BNR at the stadium “Dynama”, it will not happen!” “Why are you trying to get to “Dynama”? It is a personal insult to me. I contributed so much to the reconstruction. There is a park in Bangalore Square, let us gather in the places where this is allowed!”
12:10
"Something is not good in our kingdom,” Lukashenka replied. Was it an allusion to Shakespeare’s “Something is rotten in the State of Denmark”?
12:07
Euroradio is asking about the anti-Belarus information campaign launched in Russia Telegram channels:
— Who is acting against Belarus in Russia?
We have also asked about the celebration of the 101st anniversary of the BNR at the stadium “Dynama” and about many other things.
11:21
Russia is not paying ANYTHING to Belarus for the military bases near Vileika and Hantsavichy
"There are two bases in Belarus at the moment. You are aware about them. How much are you paying us for them? Nothing! I have been to both the bases. Interestingly, only a few Russians are there. All the other military men are Belarusians serving for the good of Russia. No problem!”
11:18
On Belarus and Russia again: “We are doomed to live together.”
11:14
The main issue of Belarus-Russia relations has been explained:
"Firstly, you do not know what is going on at your younger brother’s. You do not know what is going on in Belarus. Secondly: stop accusing us of parasitism.”
11:06
"Here is a normal variant: let Russia become part of Belarus! Do you think that the Russian people would be against it? There are principles of equality – let us stick to them.”
Alyaksandr Lukashenka jokes like this when somebody starts pestering him with questions about integration.
10:56
On the single currency: “It will definitely be roubles. We have roubles and you have roubles. But the roubles will neither be Russian, nor Belarusian.”
10:52
"We [Russia and Belarus] should be together,” the President summed up.
10:50
Lukashenka answered in his usual manner: Russians did not agree to the development of the Union State in the past. Belarus was ready… Meanwhile, he called the Russian authorities “pent-house officials”.
10:46
The head of the radio station “Echo of Moscow” was the first person to ask a question. He asked about the future of the Union State of Belarus and Russia: “What should be done now, what should be done later and what should never be done?”
10:32
It has begun!
10:29
All the participants of the Big Talk have arrived. Important people (mostly representatives of the state mass media) are sitting at the table. All the rest are sitting around them.
