Lukashenka dismisses EU’s human rights criticism as «unacceptable, unfair»
17.09.2009 | Publications
Alyaksandr
Lukashenka has dismissed as “absolutely unacceptable and unfair” the European
Union’s criticism of
“You, of course, have your own idea of human
rights. And I understand them in the classical sense of the word. And I
understand democracy in the classical sense in the first place: demos
means people and kratos means power. That says everything,” he said.
Mr.
Lukashenka expressed bewilderment over the West’s criticism of
referenda held on his initiative. “How can the government talk to the
people if you reject such a democratic approach like a referendum and
the settlement of issues through a referendum? We settle them this way.
Not in parliament, not behind the scenes,” he said.
The
Belarusian leader stressed that the basic human rights are “the right
to life, the right to work, the right to a decent job, pay, education,
healthcare, the right to receive information.”
He described
Belarus’ political system as a “democratic, law-based state.” “This is
written in the constitution, this is how I understand it because I put
this constitution to a referendum,” he noted.
Mr. Lukashenka
expressed readiness to take part in a public debate with his rivals.
“I’m not afraid of any debates. I meet with journalists, opposition
journalists, they ask me any questions and write, ‘there’s no media
freedom.’ How come there’s none? Go and buy any opposition newspaper in
a kiosk. Don’t I understand that if I close you today, there will be 10
times as much interest tomorrow. That’s why I simply have no dealings
with them. And even if I read them, I say that I have not seen them,
don’t know, don’t read them,” he said.
Mr. Lukashenka
acknowledged that Russian reporters had been expelled from Belarus for
“writing ‘very nicely’ about the Belarusian president.” //BelaPAN
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