Lukashenko urges Belarussians not to kneel for independence sake

MINSK, July 17 (Itar-Tass) -- For the sake of keeping the sovereignty
and independence, Belarus should not bow or kneel, the Belarussian
President Alexander Lukashenko said over his working trip to the Gomel
Region of the country.
"If we want to be independent, if we want to be sovereign, then
neither I nor you - the citizens of Belarus - or our friends should bow or
kneel," he told reporters commenting on relations with Russia. "Once we
kneel, we shall not be able to stand up back, and we shall be ruled all
the time, just like it used to be always, that is why I cannot afford to
kneel or bow to the Kremlin wall."
"I have told them /Russian leaders/: let us live and be friends, like
Russians and Belarussians want, and if hard times come, we shall share the
last piece we have," he said. "The defence is common, the anti-aircraft
defence and the like are common, I do not mind that, but they would not
agree."
"We have different approaches and different understanding," Lukashenko
continued. "They are very rich, they have everything, they are super
billionaires, so how can I talk to them, if I am an alien for them."