TIME journalist recounts his journey to Minsk for Lukashenko interview, explains why now

During an interview with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Simon Shuster, a journalist with TIME Magazine, shared the details of his journey to Minsk and explained why he requested the meeting at this specific time, BelTA learned.
 

“I truly appreciate this opportunity to speak with you, especially at such an interesting time in U.S.-Belarus relations,” the journalist said at the start refereeing to the recent visits by U.S. diplomats that attracted significant attention.”This uptick, if I may call it that, in dialogue between the Trump administration and the Belarusian government,” he noted. According to him, the editorial team deemed this an especially opportune moment to arrange travel to Belarus and interview its president while also using their correspondent to gain firsthand understanding of the situation on the ground. 

Simon Shuster emphasized how much he appreciated Aleksandr Lukashenko's conversational style - completely open and frank. “I truly value your willingness to address any question. Not every leader I've interviewed maintains this approach,” he noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko responded that otherwise (without anticipating a frank and detailed discussion) there would have been no point in undertaking such a long journey to conduct the interview in the first place. “Otherwise why would you need to fly all this way from New York? And what’s more - kudos to you for coming to us like an ordinary person, enduring all those border difficulties and hardships.”


“Yes, it was quite an experience. Five hours on the border," the journalist remarked, clarifying that Belarusian border guards weren't responsible for the delay.

This led to discussion of recent reinstatement of border controls between certain EU countries within the Schengen zone. Official reasons are combating illegal migration, but as the president noted “one can always find justification if needed.”

“Between Poland and Germany… Between Poland and Lithuania,” the president cited several examples. “Who would have thought Poland would close its borders? Fine, it closed its border with Belarus, ‘a dictatorship, Kremlin’ and so on. They keep feeding these narratives to their society and the world at large. But now they’ve closed borders [reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania.]

“These are concerning trends that these things are happening within the EU itself,” the journalist concurred.

 

 
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21st June was fifth International Yoga Day observed across the world. The theme for Yoga Day 2019 was "Yoga for Climate Action”. On this day, which is dedicated to inner and outer well-being of human body, people across the world practice yoga in groups. The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga, a physical, mental and spiritual practice.
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Hallo Radio Belarus,

ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.

Dietmar

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Lieber Dietmar,

das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!


I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
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73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)


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Dear English Service Radio Belarus,

Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.

Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.

We are waiting for your reply.

With best wishes,

SHIVENDU PAUL

President

Metali Listeners' Club

India

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Dear Shivendu Paul,

thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!


Hello!

Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!

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Daily News Review 8.8.25