OREANDA-NEWS. July 21, 2009. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko urges not to believe the gossip and speculations spread by some mass media that claim that Belarus would abandon Russia. The President made the relevant statement as he met with Sergei Stepashin, Chairman of the Russian Audit Chamber, on 21 July.

“We will never leave Russia just like Russia will never leave us,” said the President of Belarus. “All the things they write about it are total lies and a deliberate distortion of facts following any events, even the smallest ones. Let alone economic and political relations between Belarus and Russia”. “This is an anti-people lobby that has been activated in Russia and in Belarus,” added Alexander Lukashenko.

Addressing Sergei Stepashin, the Belarusian leader made it clear that: “We have always been together and will be. This is why the State Control Committee and the Audit Chamber have a lot of work to do for the future. I am confident that the amount of work will even increase”.

The head of state said he hopes that cooperation between the two agencies will grow stronger in all areas. “I always support any intermediation of yours in any issues pertaining to the mutual relations between the countries,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. “Auditing will always be a vital effort of any government”.