No same-sex marriages in Belarus, says president

Minsk, April 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday he will never legalise same-sex marriage in his country while he is in office.

"We should not be forced to introduce same-sex marriages. This will not happen in the near future. That is for sure, when I am the president," Lukashenko said in his state-of-the-nation address to the Belarusian people and parliament in the capital Minsk.

"Our people will not accept this. Wait a little," he said.

Last month, Lukashenko hit out at new European Union sanctions imposed against his government officials, saying it "was better to be a dictator than gay".

The Belarusian president, who has often made critical remarks about homosexuality, said in an interview with The Independent daily that he could however still forgive women who were lesbians.

"As for woman-woman, I once said that it is our men's fault that today a woman has replaced a man. It is our fault. So I am sorry about that. We turned out to be incapable for some women," Lukashenko said.

"As for men, I say sweet Jesus! God forgive them! I never initiate the discussion about them or judge them, because at the moment it is beyond my understanding," he said.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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