Events

MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs urges to refrain from taking hasty steps and making harsh statements about the Belarusian-Ukrainian relations, spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik said when asked to comment on the statement of Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, BelTA has said.

Dmitry Mironchik said that he looked through the statement by the Ukrainian minister. But it merits careful reading and analysis because he touched on the theme of biometrics, the issue regarding the disappearance of Ukrainian citizen Pavel Grib, the Zapad 2017 military drills and the topic of Belarusian sovereignty.

“Every country, every foreign ministry is obliged to worry about the safety of its nationals abroad, and to issue, if necessary, appropriate recommendations. For example, the recommendation of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Belarusian citizens to avoid participating in political rallies and public events in Ukraine is still in force,” the said.

Mr Klimkin said that the Ukrainian side intends to take some steps once all the circumstances of Pavel Grib’s case are clarified. At this point everything that relates to the Belarusian episode of the case has been the information from mass media,” Dmitry Mironchik said.

According to him, in order to make some responsible statements and to take some steps it is necessary to have credible official information from the law enforcement agencies. “For the time being the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have such information,” Dmitry Mironchik stressed. “But, as far as I know, the Belarusian law enforcement agencies continue to work on this case. Once there is clarity, there will be further action,” he added.

“What one should not do for sure is to make patronizing statements about the sovereignty of the neighbors, especially taking into account the recent border crossing show in front of government officials in Ukraine,” Dmitry Mironchik said.