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“The first impression is that it is very strange, and it is unfortunate that economic decisions are made on the basis of political incentives and not on the basis of economic logic. I believe that without evaluating the benefits that the Belarusian state receives from transporting its cargo through the territory of Lithuania to the Lithuanian port, it will punish itself, not only the companies that provide our services and our state, ”said R. Sinkevičius at the press conference.
“The EU should be united and in solidarity in case such things happen. The EU did not speak of economic sanctions against Belarus, but of sanctions against individuals. It is to apply economic sanctions if one of the countries, the EU, Lithuania and Poland is applied. , considering that we must be united and in solidarity in the EU, then, apparently, appropriate measures will be applied on the other side as well, ”said the Minister.
“Such things are unlikely to be needed,” he added.
According to the minister, although Lithuanian companies do not present any red flags so far, it would be worth preparing alternative freight transport routes for them.
“Entrepreneurs feel calm there. Our business structures do not pose such a threat yet, but the statements themselves are threatening, forcing us to analyze the situation, ”he said, adding that the Lithuanian transit business should still think about possible alternative routes.
“There are such alternatives. If we adhere to the principle of solidarity, there are alternatives to road transport, both through Poland and through Latvia. If we talk about the transport of Belarusian cargo to Klaipeda, it is unfortunate, because the stevedoring company BKT in Klaipeda it has 30 percent. Belarus owns shares. At the same time, stopping or reducing cargo handling will also lose commercial benefits, “said the Minister.
“We want to not panic, act calmly, try to analyze the situation and see how much it represents a real threat, and how much is just verbal statements to the local audience,” added R. Sinkevičius.
ELTA recalls that the demonstrations in Belarus began after August 9. presidential elections in which 80.1 percent. A. Lukashenko, who ruled the country for 26 years, received votes. According to official figures, opposition spokeswoman Sviatlana Cichanouskaya ranked second with 10.12 percent. votes, but did not acknowledge the results. S. Cichanouskaja herself left Belarus on the night of August 11 for her safety and is currently in Lithuania.
The rigged elections in the country have unleashed a wave of protests that continues to this day. The protests were violently repressed by the authorities, several people died, thousands were arrested and torture was reported in detention centers.
While attending a demonstration of sympathizers held in Grodno, Lukashenko stated that “riots” in the country are being instigated by foreign countries, and that the instigators are supposedly Lithuania and Poland.
Mr Lukashenko also warned neighboring countries, including Lithuania, that they might receive an “adequate response” from the allied state of Belarus and Russia.
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