In November 2002, Gazprom halved gas supplies to Belarus. In anticipation of winter, this was fraught with consequences for the country's economy and for every Belarusian. Minsk called such a move as unexpected and illogical. The head of state convened an emergency meeting.
“No one is going to give anyone up! We're not going to become a province. I don't know how to convince you of that. I think time is the best judge. We'll live and see. We have always been a sovereign independent state and this is how it will always be. That's sacred, I've said that before. This quote of mine was recently hyped by Russian channels throughout Russia. I can reiterate this once again: we will be an independent state. If we join a union (this is the world practice: integration, unions, the whole world rallies into unions today), then it will happen on equal terms only," Aleksandr Lukashenko assured.
It should be understood that on the eve of the construction of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, Minsk and Moscow came to a mutually beneficial agreement. It satisfied the interests of both parties. Belarus has ensured a corridor for the construction of an infrastructure facility and provided a number of customs and tax benefits. In response, Russia undertook to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies for a long period.
Welding and installation works to connect two sections of the Belarusian part of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, 2002
