Meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who has arrived in Minsk for the high-level international conference on Eurasian security.

"Mr. Minister, let me welcome you. It is a pleasure to meet with you. You are probably the most media popular foreign minister right now, especially in our space. We see you often and hear you. Not only your statements, but also those by our good friend Mr Orban[ (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban]. For some reason, the European Union believes that Belarus is its opponent. We are not vindictive people. And this is despite the current turbulence in the EU and the sanctions that the European Union imposed against us. You should know that the Belarusian President is an ardent supporter of the European Union," the head of state said.

"It’s not because I love the European Union very much. It’s because the EU, along with the United States, China, Russia, and to some extent India, are strong pillars of the current system in the word. If this pillar is taken out from this system, it will be very bad for everyone," the Belarusian leader explained.

Aleksandr Lukashenko once again stressed that Belarus, being a European state and the geographical center of Europe, wants the European Union to keep intact.

"We really want the European Union to be a powerful, strong, sovereign and independent association. This is what we wish to see. This is something you should know. Despite all the nuances in relations and even the policy that the union is pursuing towards Belarus today. We are supporters of the union," the head of state said.