Lukashenka: «Energy turned from economic problem into political one»

• 11.10.2007, 13:38

On Thursday Aliaksandr Lukashenka declared the intention to start the nuclear power station construction, stressing that “Belarus won’t survive without it”. “We have determined that creation of our own nuclear energy industry is our non-alternative variant of national independence guarantee”, - Lukashenka declared.

According to ITAR-TASS, Lukashenka didn’t say who will construct the nuclear power station.

“In 2008 we must finish the preparative works and start directly the construction of the station”, - Lukashenka said.

The Belarusian president assures that the nuclear power station construction is grounded not on political reasons but on the necessity to “guarantee our energy security in the conditions of the world gas and oil depletion, irregular supplies and constantly increasing energy supplies prices”.

“To my regret, energy has turned from the economic problem into a political one, into a factor that determines the relations between the states and state alliances”, - Lukashenka declared.

“In no case should we decline the construction of energy objects working on local raw: firewood, brown coal, schist, water and wind energy, - Lukashenka remarked. – We will develop such directions as using the renewable energy sources. Suddenly the situation appears when we will need to provide people with energy”.

Lukashenka is often called on the West “the last dictator of Europe”, the BBC Russian Service remarks. Also the western leaders are concerned of Belarusian leadership’s close relations with such countries as Venezuela and Iran. Iran tries to develop its own energy programme announcing its peaceful character, though the West suspects it in the intention to produce nuclear weapon.