On October 16, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. Belarus and Russia must stick together. This was stated today by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a press conference for representatives of Russian regional media, BelTA correspondent reports. "Belarus has become a certain moral factor for Russia, and this is the greatest value that you must not lose. And we will live in such a way that you will not be ashamed, that we will remain this moral core. This is partly the essence of my policy," said the head of state. "We cannot lose what we have acquired together," emphasized Alexander Lukashenko. "What we have built together, created nuclear weapons, optics and electronics were among the best in the world. Where is this? You must not forget this," he added. "We are discussing the issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin. - BelTA note). I tell him: doesn't it bother you that you are now compared to Lukashenko, and Russia to Belarus? He tried to pretend that he didn't see or hear it, so as not to offend me there," said the head of state. - I say: remember one thing - they will deal with me first, then with you, with Belarus, then with Russia, one by one." Alexander Lukashenko believes that Belarus and Russia must stick together: "Why are they (the West. - BelTA note) 'bombing' us together now? Because they understand that if we stand back to back, we will not be taken with bare hands. This is what they fear most. And they are right to fear." "We will recover and straighten up, Belarusians and Russians. No one will succeed in bending us. No one! If we are together with Russia - never," the President concluded. -0-

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