National News

Lukashenko reveals details of phone conversations on Afghanistan

“I have just had a telephone conversation with your president [Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon]. We have been talking for 30 minutes, and he, as a very close friend, briefed me on the current situation in Afghanistan. By the way, he provided a lot of new information which is not known and not seen by mass media. The situation is very difficult and tense. I am grateful to him for sincerely telling me about what is going on there. We also discussed how important it is to work with Tajikistan and other republics,” the head of state said.

He remarked that Tajikistan has a long common border with Afghanistan. “It is necessary to strengthen the border. This part of the border is a difficult one. It was difficult in Soviet times. Right now it is even more difficult,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the burden was laid on Tajikistan and Tajikistani people. “It is clear that you have enough people to protect the border. You need modern instruments, weapons,” he said.

The telephone conversation with Emomali Rahmon also focused on the development of a unified position, the harmonization of approaches on Afghanistan between the CSTO and the SCO. “All that was laid on Emomali Sharipovich [Rahmon] during the meeting in Dushanbe [where the summits of CSTO and SCO will take place] at the middle of September,” the Belarusian head of state said.

Addressing the ambassador, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the meeting with him is important as it is taking place in the run-up to the visit to Tajikistan. “You [the Tajikistani side] have more information than other republics and countries in the world. I am absolutely sure of that. You have more information than even the USA who are working there directly,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

According to the head of state, the Tajikistan president has been giving warnings about very dangerous developments in Afghanistan for decades. “We have been listening to all that, understood (the situation is not easy in various corners of the world), and, probably, treated it as an ordinary event. But he was right,” the Belarusian president said.

“I've also had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin today. I also want to talk to [Uzbekistan President Shavkat] Mirziyoyev about the situation in the region to have a clear picture before the CSTO summit. Everybody supported my proposal to hold CSTO-SCO consultations. Everything will take place in Dushanbe, all the leaders will be there. It is also important to know the position of the SCO,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.