Borrell: Minsk’s decision to send Polish and Lithuanian diplomats undermines dialogue with the EU



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“Minsk’s demand that Poland and Lithuania withdraw their ambassadors and significantly reduce the number of personnel in their diplomatic missions in Belarus is unfounded and regrettable. It contradicts the logic of the dialogue and will further isolate Minsk, Borrell stressed. – Attempts by the Belarusian authorities to take action against some EU countries cannot undermine European unity, as confirmed at the EVS meeting on October 1, when the leaders of all EU countries asked the authorities Belarusians to end violence and repression, release all political detainees and prisoners, and respect civil liberties. and civil society, to start a comprehensive national dialogue. ”On the same day, EU leaders approved sanctions against 40 Belarusian officials.

“EU countries support the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect a president in free and fair elections without foreign interference,” Borrell said.

October 2 Anatoly Glaz, press secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Minsk will be present from October 5. reminds his ambassadors in Poland and Lithuania to consult and that Warsaw and Vilnius have been offered to do the same.

Furthermore, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Poland and Lithuania reduce the number of their diplomats from 50 to 18 and from 25 to 14, respectively, due to the “manifestly destructive” activities of these countries.

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