[ad_1]
“Iraq is cautious about returning people,” the Lithuanian head of diplomacy told reporters at Vilnius airport on Friday.
However, he stressed that Lithuania has influence in the negotiations with Baghdad.
As the minister in the SNB previously said, the European Union is preparing to tighten the issuance of Schengen visas to Iraqis, but solving the migration problem in Lithuania may change the opinion of the community.
“Iraq has high expectations of deeper cooperation with the EU. Almost everything is related to visas, travel. (…) Today, many eyes are on Lithuania.” If this problem is solved, it is possible that the approach to Iraq in the European Union is more favorable, “said G. Landsbergis.
He added that Lithuania feels strong support from the EU – a representative of EU diplomacy has repeatedly discussed this issue with Baghdad.
According to the minister, the most important help from Iraq before sending illegal immigrants back to their country of origin would be their identification.
At that time, Lithuania would like the registry of people who transit to Minsk from Turkey, through which migrants enter Iraq to Belarus, and therefore the possibility of identifying them.
“If they can’t give them (data – BNS) before illegal migration, that’s good, then they can help us get that data after migration,” explained the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.
According to G. Landsbergis, the Turkish consular representative delegated by Istanbul, who would operate on the territory of Lithuania, could serve this purpose.
Currently, a delegation of Lithuanian specialists is discussing the possibilities of closer cooperation in the Turkish capital. A delegation of experts is expected to travel to Iraq later this month.
The Minister also said that the possibility of reducing the number of flights to Minsk by offering compensation was discussed with the officials of the countries, but that it is likely that there will be no favorable solutions in this area in the near future.
“Their argument is that the flights are commercial, so they do not see the possibility of reducing them quickly,” explained the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.
Lithuania does not intend to “kneel” against Minsk
On Friday, the President of the Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union, Ramūnas Karbauskis, called on Lithuanian politicians to look for mediating countries that can help talk to Minsk about the crisis of illegal immigrants.
“We need to look for countries, perhaps third countries, I mean non-EU countries, which would try to help one way or another to speak through diplomatic channels with Belarus. Because it is quite obvious that this is a special campaign, an organized campaign, ”R. Karbauskis told News Radio.
According to him, these could be those countries that cooperate with the European Union (EU), the United States, but also maintain relations with Belarus. The politician cited the United Arab Emirates as an example.
For his part, G. Landsbergis affirmed that Lithuania has the tools to dismantle the travel networks of illegal immigrants.
“It seems to me that when a terrorist terrorizes you, starting negotiations with him, to give him more space, I think it would be the wrong decision. We really still have the tools to dismantle the emerging network. Natural partners emerge. Nobody wants to be a victim of an illegal migration network. Be it Turkey or Iraq, “he said.
“Bowing my head, kneeling before a terrorist, this is completely unacceptable to me,” added the minister.
Recently, Lithuania has faced an increase in illegal migration across the border with Belarus, mainly citizens from Iraq, as well as from African countries.
In total, more than 1.9 thousand people have been detained on the border with Belarus this year. illegal migrants. This number is several times higher than it was throughout 2020.
Lithuanian officials say the increased migration flows is an organized action by the Belarusian regime against Lithuania. Tensions between Minsk and Vilnius escalated last year after the disputed presidential elections in Belarus.
Lithuania has declared an emergency situation due to the influx of illegal immigrants.
