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“The last step – an attack on the embassies of the two countries, on the one hand, further reduces the possibility of diplomacy, on the other hand – is to try to divide the European Union, but it is clear that it will not succeed.” “I have heard assurances from Joseph Borrell that these steps will not really divide us,” the minister told BNS on Sunday.
According to him, the EU will continue to demand that Minsk hold free elections, release political prisoners and end violence against protesting citizens.
“It just came to our notice then. (…) It is clear to everyone except the outgoing authorities in Minsk that dialogue is necessary, because otherwise they will not break that deadlock. But they are doing everything they can to avoid it. ”Said L. Linkevičius.
The minister spoke after a conversation with the European Union’s foreign policy chief J. Borrell, who said on Sunday that the Belarusian Foreign Ministry’s demand to reduce the number of diplomats in the Lithuanian and Polish embassies in Minsk would lead to further isolation of the Belarusian government.
Minsk said on Saturday that its call on Friday to cut diplomatic staff at the Lithuanian and Polish embassies was mandatory. In addition, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced that it would convene its ambassadors from Lithuania and Poland for consultations.
According to L. Linkevičius, Belarus has so far only reported orally on the calls that have become its demands.
“It just came to our notice then. If they now say that this is not an offer but a requirement, let’s wait and see what it looks like. Usually a note is sent and clearly presented. (…) We have not received yet. nothing ”, commented the Minister.
European Union leaders agreed on Friday to announce sanctions against Belarus over the country’s political crisis. They were also announced by the United States that day. Canada and the UK followed suit earlier this week.
In Belarus there have been unprecedented protests for almost two months over the presidential elections on August 9, announced by Aliaksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994. The opposition and Western countries consider these elections to be rigged.
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