Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has lashed out at the European Union for expanding sanctions against his country last week.
He singled out Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for particular scorn when he made his remarks on March 4.
About Westerwelle, who is openly gay, Lukashenka said: "As for the second one who was screaming about a dictatorship... Having heard that, I thought to myself: better to be a dictator than to be gay."
Lukashenka also expressed confidence that Belarus would be allowed to host the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship despite sanctions.
After the EU expanded sanctions on February 27, Minsk asked the EU's ambassador to Belarus and Poland's ambassador to leave the country.
The EU responded by recalling the ambassadors of all 27 EU member states.
He singled out Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for particular scorn when he made his remarks on March 4.
About Westerwelle, who is openly gay, Lukashenka said: "As for the second one who was screaming about a dictatorship... Having heard that, I thought to myself: better to be a dictator than to be gay."
Lukashenka also expressed confidence that Belarus would be allowed to host the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship despite sanctions.
After the EU expanded sanctions on February 27, Minsk asked the EU's ambassador to Belarus and Poland's ambassador to leave the country.
The EU responded by recalling the ambassadors of all 27 EU member states.
