On September 30, President Alexander Lukashenko answered questions from representatives of Belarusian and foreign mass media agencies.

Speaking about agriculture, Alexander Lukashenko expressed his conviction that by the end of the current five-year period Belarus's revenues from the export of agricultural products may reach 7 billion US dollars. "We do have things to offer for sale on the market, and we will definitely reach the level of 4 billion US dollars this year. There will be three billion US dollars left to accrue, less than one billion per year," he said. "But if we set the target of 7 billion US dollars, we will be well-off, we will forget what shortage of hard currency means," said the President.

Belarus has made very good progress over the past ten years in the development of its agricultural industry, he said. "If you compare us today with our neighbors and other countries, even with some of the EU countries with whom Belarus has a common border and with whom we used to be great friends once, then of course from the point of view of the agricultural complex, and not only the production side of things but life of people in rural areas on the whole, you will see that Belarus looks more preferable," the Head of State said.

As for the financial support provided by the government to domestic agricultural producers, Alexander Lukashenko said that this support will be gradually discontinued, and by 2017 the agricultural industry is expected to function without any financial backing from the state.

Alexander Lukashenko was asked to comment on the rumors that started circulating after his meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Gazprom, Alexei Miller. The rumor had it that the Belarusian authorities were ready to sell some of Belarus's highly marketable companies to the Russian gas monopoly in exchange for certain concessions.

"It has been made up by journalists. In actual fact, we are not going to sell everything that happens to be within reach. You are aware that Gazprom is primarily interested in a 50 percent stake in Beltransgaz, which belongs to Belarus. They are ready to buy the other 50 percent stake for the same price, 2.5 billion US dollars. We have absolutely nothing against it. But we have made our own requirements," the Head of State said.

"First, in order for us to receive a certain pay for the transit of gas and make sure that if Beltransgaz belongs to Russia it pays taxes here, gas must be pumped through this pipe to the West in full volume at all times," explained the President.

"Second, we expect to have equal-profit prices in Russia and Belarus. The Single Economic Space is another reason why we move in this direction," said Alexander Lukashenko.

One of the matters discussed during Alexander Lukashenko's meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi was the provision of equal business conditions for Belarusian and Russian companies. "Otherwise what sense is there for us in entering the SES if we did not have equal opportunities? The conditions must be equal," the Belarusian Leader said.

The President of Russia agreed with these reasons and expressed his understanding of the position of Belarus.

"It was in the same vein that we had a discussion with Alexei Miller. He told me that the Russian leadership approved of entitling Belarus to buy Russian gas next year at a price much lower than now," said Alexander Lukashenko.

The reason for this is that from 1 January 2012 Belarus will be a member of the Single Economic Space together with Russia and Kazakhstan, he explained. "As you know, the membership of the SES has come at a price for us. And the recent shocks in the Belarusian foreign exchange market have been partly caused by the SES, too," said Alexander Lukashenko. He said he meant the import to Belarus of used vehicles in large numbers. Nearly 3 billion US dollars have been spent by Belarusians on these purposes and taken out of the country. "This is understood in Russia, too," said the Belarusian Leader.

"We put other questions to Gazprom, too, in case the sale of the 50 percent stake in Beltransgaz takes place. As for other companies, we did not even mention them," said the President. "We might want to sell a company to Gazprom or agree on building new facilities, but Gazprom is cautious about such steps because it has quite enough problems of its own in Russia. Therefore do not be afraid that someone is trying to sell something on the side."

Alexander Lukashenko said he proposed Gazprom to participate in the refitting of Grodno Azot and possibly even to build a similar company. "We are speaking here about a sum in between 1.5 and 2 billion US dollars which is quite feasible for Gazprom, and we would participate in it, too, since the international demand and prices for fertilizers keep growing," said the Head of State.

"We have agreed (with the Chairman of the Board of OJSC Gazprom, Alexei Miller) that somewhere in November – early December we need to sign an intergovernmental agreement and all the contracts for the delivery of Russian gas to Belarus."

The journalists asked the President to comment on the prospects of Belarus's participation in the Eastern Partnership Initiative.

Alexander Lukashenko said he did not see any concrete substance in that European initiative so far and that it "only raises questions."

"As yet, I am looking at it and asking myself, When will the Eastern Partnership grow from some sort of school for teaching politics and diplomacy, teaching one country only at that, which is us, when will it grow into a normal partnership? When will we start implementing economic projects, building roads, transport arteries?" said the Head of State.

He said he was also interested in how long would it take the European Union to finally start treating Belarus as a partner? It concerns not only Belarus, according to him, but also Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova.

"So far, it has been just talking. The EU should not be mad at me," said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko expressed his opinion with regard to the European Partnership summit which took place on September 30 in Poland.

"As regards today's meeting, they have tried to apply some sort of educational sanctions to us. It is like we are inviting everyone at such a level, and Belarus we are inviting at a different level. Well, thanks. We do not want to torpedo the work of the Eastern Partnership," said the Head of State.

According to the President, it was the Belarusian Ambassador to Poland, Viktor Gaisyonok, who was authorized to lead the Belarusian delegation at the summit. "They did not expect this. They thought we would bang our heads on the door, moan or beg for something. If you do not want it, you do not have it. We sent our ambassador. They said, the wrong level. They attempted to humiliate him (the ambassador) again, and we refused to participate at all," said the President. "What are they doing? They are forming some kind of statement on behalf of the partners. Naturally, none of the countries, neither Ukraine, nor Moldova, nor Georgia, nor Azerbaijan, nor Armenia, supported that resolution. Then, at night, the EU started to coerce our partners in the Eastern Partnership into adopting a different resolution. Of course, none of the countries, none of the heads of state supported that resolution. But more than that, they stood up very actively in support of Belarus and said the Europeans had the wrong attitude towards Belarus."

Alexander Lukashenko expressed his gratitude to the Baltic States, to Bulgaria and to other countries who "support Belarus in spirit and openly." "They are close, they are neighbors, they see it," he said.

Alexander Lukashenko thanked the heads of state of the five Eastern Partnership member states for supporting Belarus.

"I want to publicly thank my friends, partners, colleagues, heads of state who gave their strong support to us even in our absence. That was huge. Belarus will not leave it unanswered," said the Head of State. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan, Mikhail Saakashvili and Ilham Aliyev, who were the most active supporters of Belarus in Europe.

"I think, after this, many have thought about it and understood that one should not treat Belarus like that, there are no reasons for that," added Alexander Lukashenko.

"So if there is partnership, we will participate in it. If there is not one…so far there is not one anyway. You see yourself, there is nothing but admonitions, but headache," said the President. "So we will see what to do with this Eastern Partnership," added Alexander Lukashenko.

He added that in taking his decision he will orient towards the heads of state who supported Belarus and "in fact said no to the adoption of the anti-Belarusian resolution."

Representatives of the mass media agencies asked Alexander Lukashenko to give his comments to the information on the Internet claiming that he was supposedly harboring plans to flee the country and that his health was declining. "If I was preparing to flee the country, I would not be polishing it up the way I have been doing in recent time. I was born and raised here, and here I will die," said the Head of State.

"As for my health, tell them (the ill-wishers) that the President is terminally ill. Therefore let them line up for the throne which will be vacant tomorrow, and the one who will be faster than the rest will jump into it and become President," said the Belarusian Leader ironically and added that he felt OK.

Speaking about the representatives of the fifth column among the opposition, Alexander Lukashenko said, "They will not get this country, however hard they try, whatever they do."

"We will continue to do our utmost to maintain the level of support for our people that we have always demonstrated. We will not abandon this policy," said Alexander Lukashenko.

"We have enough friends. Take Russia. I am convinced that Russia needs us very much. Never will Russia let Belarus fall into poverty. I am confident, they will lend us a helping hand. We have enough friends," said the President.