Lukashenko presents Order of Honor to governor of Russia’s St. Petersburg
12:00, 27 October
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko presented the Order of Honor to Governor of Russia’s St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov on 27 October, BelTA has learned.
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“It is great to begin with something nice,” the head of state said as he welcomed the distinguished guest. “As we say, the award has found its heroes.”
"It is a great honor for me and for our city. I thank you,” Alexander Beglov replied, receiving the Order of Honor.
“This award is well deserved. Believe me, it is very difficult to receive an award here. And I have raised this awarding question a couple of times, whether we are awarding the right order. [Russian President] Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], we discussed it with him, said: ‘Yes, Beglov deserves the award, I agree’,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He noted that in this case there was no way to give the award without the Russian president’s consent. “That is also bad. Probably Belarusians and Russians should already move away from this. Why are we asking each other here whom to award... If someone deserves it, they should be awarded. Otherwise someone might block the awarding of the Russian ambassador to Belarus, and then what...” the Belarusian leader remarked.
“I have taken the hint,” Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, who was present at the meeting, responded.
“While we are in power, this issue needs to be resolved, since it has already come up,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
The president also sent his warmest wishes to all the people of St. Petersburg. He gave particular thanks to the city’s governor for the assistance rendered to Belarus and for the high level of cooperation that has taken shape. “If our cooperation with other cities and regions of Russia were like our cooperation with St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, we would have no problems at all, neither in Russia nor in Belarus,” the head of state said.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the president, Alexander Beglov noted: “I see this award as an advance. And above all, of course, it is a tribute of respect to the hero city of Leningrad. It is an award for our city. For our interaction and cooperation. Which is indeed successful today.”
As BelTA reported earlier, Alexander Beglov was honored with the order for the services in developing trade, economic and cultural ties and strengthening international cooperation between Belarus and Russia. Belarusian head of state Aleksandr Lukashenko signed the corresponding decree.
