Milinkevich about Makei: “He is an educated and European man”

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Uladzimir Makei, head of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s administration, had an informal meeting during opening of the XI Minsk Forum on November 13.

After this meeting, Milinkevich said the head of the Lukashenka’s Administration “has no complex of Europe that other officials have”.

“He is an educated and European man. I talked about our strategy, that I think the situation in Belarus, first of all economic situation, is very difficult. If no attempts are made to modernize economy, Belarus will fully depend on Russia, become its protectorate,” Milinkevich told in an interview to BelaPAN.

According to the politician, Makei was low-key. “I talked more than he, but I think he is fully acquainted with the situation,” Milinkevich said.

“I know that the authorities are discussing possible cooperation with the opposition on some questions. We have been speaking for along time that an inner dialog is needed. Today the opposition has no possibilities to be the third party in negotiations between Europe and the authorities. Our participation is correspondent – Europe consults us on all issues. This dialog is being prepared now. I think, it will take place at last,” the politician said.

In his view, “elite and counter-elite” should find “mutual understanding”.

“We have the only thing that can unite us: we have a common country that can’t be a token coin in our struggle and political competition,” Milinkevich said. He also noted that the authorities “should better fulfil” the EU offers on changing the situation in the country.