MINSK, December 6. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes that if the Russian government decides to deploy Russia’s Oreshnik medium-range missile system in the republic, it should be Minsk that determines its potential targets.
"We have certain locations where we can place these weapons. There is only one condition — the targets for these arms shall be determined by the military and political leaders of Belarus," Lukashenko said following a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.
The Belarusian president believes that if the Oreshnik is placed in the republic, Russia should initially be in charge of any launches and maintenance. "In the meantime, while you instruct us on how to use this weapon, should you agree to this, Russian specialists will service it and carry out launches on certain targets with Oreshnik warheads. You know how to do this. You have demonstrated it recently. This would significantly strengthen the defense of our Union and, above all, of the Belarusian territory," said Lukashenko.
"I sincerely ask you to consider this and agree to my request," he said to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "They reproach us, saying that nuclear weapons (tactical - TASS) have been deployed in Belarus. But this [Oreshnik] is not a nuclear weapon. It is very effective, and as you mentioned, it inflicts damage comparable to a nuclear weapon, but without any contamination or potential fallout," the Belarusian president said.
Lukashenko stated that these terms are in the best interests of the nation of Belarus.