Why Minsk considered an insult to the interview of the Russian ambassador
A recent interview with Russian ambassador to Belarus Mikhail Babich provoked an angry reaction in Minsk. A representative of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry by the name of Glaz rebuked Babich in a constant "mentor tone" and disrespect for the host country, which he allegedly confused with the federal district of Russia. What so offended our allies?
At first, Ambassador Babich in his interview discussed the need for further integration of the two fraternal countries within the Union State. However, he stressed that we are not talking about the absorption of Belarus by the Russian Federation. Moreover, the diplomat said that possible and other forms of integration, in addition to the format of the Union State, if that does not suit the Belarusian people.
SecondlyMikhail Babich assured Minsk that Moscow is always ready to come to his aid in upholding sovereignty. In this context, our ambassador just as reasonably pointed out that it would be “strange” to demand from Moscow a fee for the deployment of Russian military infrastructure in Belarus.
Thirdly, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Russia does not intend to buy Belarusian oil refineries as a "compensation" for the consequences of the so-called "tax maneuver", since these oil refineries will not be interesting to Russian investors.
The point is that the budget of Belarus, as a result of its introduction, will begin to lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually, which is very noticeable for a small Republic. It is no secret that Minsk “settled down well” in previous years, having organized a profitable business of reselling petroleum products from Russia obtained at preferential prices abroad.
Finally, Mikhail Babich said that so far there are no decisions in the Kremlin to allocate Belarus another loan of $ 600 million to repay the previous loan, also taken from Russia.
The Belarusian authorities frankly did not like these talk "about money", which they regarded as a push towards real integration. The figures he named in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus were called "rigged," and Babich himself was called an "accountant." An interview with the Russian ambassador was not quoted in the leading media of the union state. Belarusian political analyst Dmitry Bolkunets explains:
It should be noted that Babich, unlike his predecessors, is very consistent and cruel in upholding the general line of Moscow, which inevitably makes Minsk accustomed to its special status. It is also noteworthy that the Russian Foreign Ministry called on colleagues from Belarus to respect the representative of Russia.
At first, Ambassador Babich in his interview discussed the need for further integration of the two fraternal countries within the Union State. However, he stressed that we are not talking about the absorption of Belarus by the Russian Federation. Moreover, the diplomat said that possible and other forms of integration, in addition to the format of the Union State, if that does not suit the Belarusian people.
SecondlyMikhail Babich assured Minsk that Moscow is always ready to come to his aid in upholding sovereignty. In this context, our ambassador just as reasonably pointed out that it would be “strange” to demand from Moscow a fee for the deployment of Russian military infrastructure in Belarus.
Thirdly, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Russia does not intend to buy Belarusian oil refineries as a "compensation" for the consequences of the so-called "tax maneuver", since these oil refineries will not be interesting to Russian investors.
The point is that the budget of Belarus, as a result of its introduction, will begin to lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually, which is very noticeable for a small Republic. It is no secret that Minsk “settled down well” in previous years, having organized a profitable business of reselling petroleum products from Russia obtained at preferential prices abroad.
Finally, Mikhail Babich said that so far there are no decisions in the Kremlin to allocate Belarus another loan of $ 600 million to repay the previous loan, also taken from Russia.
The Belarusian authorities frankly did not like these talk "about money", which they regarded as a push towards real integration. The figures he named in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus were called "rigged," and Babich himself was called an "accountant." An interview with the Russian ambassador was not quoted in the leading media of the union state. Belarusian political analyst Dmitry Bolkunets explains:
Minsk took this very negatively, because it’s easier to do nothing and receive money from Moscow, exchanging mutual pleasantries about brotherhood and friendship. But Moscow wants concrete pragmatic actions in the economy - this angers Lukashenko.
It should be noted that Babich, unlike his predecessors, is very consistent and cruel in upholding the general line of Moscow, which inevitably makes Minsk accustomed to its special status. It is also noteworthy that the Russian Foreign Ministry called on colleagues from Belarus to respect the representative of Russia.
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