Calling for a Europe without borders, Belarus President Alexander Lukas­henko warned on September 16 that his country will not be forced into choosing between good relations with either the European Union or Russia. We want to be a bridge between the East and West Why should we get rid of our relationship with Russia? Who would benefit from that? Lukshenko said at a Lithuanian-Belorussian business forum in the Lithuanian capital. I want the Europeans to understand we cannot be pushed about or made to do anything we don’t want to, he added. His country stood on the threshold of accession to the European Union, he said. Lukashenko praised his country’s economic achievements and called for the EU to reduce the cost of visas for Belarussians wanting to visit. If you don’t like Lukashenko, fine. You can take action against Lukashenko, but not against the Belorussian people, he said. Standing in front of the flags of Lithuania, Belarus and the European Union, he said that the efforts of all countries should be to create a Europe without borders.