MINSK, January 15 (RIA Novosti) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday his country’s economy has stabilized and dismissed the idea of an excessively fast integration of former Soviet republics.
“Last year was a difficult one,” Lukashenko told a press conference on Tuesday. “Without financial stabilization, it would be impossible to speak of economic development.”
“We achieved small but stable economic growth,” the Belarusian leader said. He said GDP grew 1.5 percent instead of the planned 5-5.5 percent, but added that economic growth in agriculture and industry in 2012 was higher than expected.
Lukashenko dismissed speculations of a possible government resignation.
The president said each former Soviet republic makes its own sovereign choice as to what extent it will participate in integration processes.
“Maybe Russia would like us to make faster, more radical steps,” he said. “But neither Kazakhstan nor Belarus would do that without a good reason.”
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are part of a Russia-led customs union.
Lukashenko said he has not yet decided whether he would run in the 2015 presidential election in the country.
“Only the Lord knows whether the current president will run,” the Belarusian leader said of himself.
“As regards the so-called opposition candidates, I do not want to see them on any top posts at all,” he said. “They are traitors of the Belarusian nation.”
“The choice of the people should be respected,” Lukashenko said. “Criticize, but not against the public interests.”
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, was reelected in disputed polls in December 2010. Dozens of opposition figures, including political rivals, were arrested after violent protests in Minsk following the announcement of the election result.
