Lukashenko: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia seek integration, not revival of USSR

    Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are establishing modern forms of integration, not reviving the USSR, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told the TV channel 24 KZ of the media agency Khabar in an interview prior to his visit to Kazakhstan, BelTA has learned.
    Alexander Lukashenko said it would be totally wrong to think that the integration under of the Customs Union is the revival of the USSR. The leaders of the three states regret the dissolution of the Soviet Union; however, there is no turning back.
    “We are absolutely different now; the global environment is completely different; we need to go forward creating integration unions, because the entire world is doing so. We were outpaced by other countries where integration is proceeding faster. We lag behind them in terms of integration,” the President said.
    “However, no one wants to go back to old times, and it is not possible. Therefore it would be wrong and illogical to say that someone wants to re-create the Soviet Union. We are establishing modern integration forms that do not agitate the outside world or our nations. People want to live in sovereign, independent states,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.
    “The USSR was a counterbalance maintaining the multipolarity of the world. Now we all are looking for this multipolarity, but it is hard to maintain it now. This is the reason for tensions and hostilities. This allows one country to attack another one without the consent of the United Nations. There is no counterbalance,” the head of state said, according to Belta.