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Lithuania ready for dialogue, Lukashenko says

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MINSK, 19 December (BelTA) – Lithuania is ready for a dialogue with Belarus at the level of deputy ministers of foreign affairs. Belarus President, Chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress on 19 December, BelTA has learned.

Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus Maksim Butranets made a speech during the Belarusian People’s Congress session. The head of state noted that the border service focuses on its designated mission more than any other defense, security, and law enforcement agency.

“Weather balloons start flying? The border service is to blame. Or has failed to prevent it. This is why, Maksim, I’d like you and [Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus Konstantin] Molostov not to throw these balloons into Lithuania’s territory. Because it may cause a war. I am just kidding. Because I know that we don’t do that,” the head of state said. “Thank heavens that they have identified either 150 or 200 people in Lithuania that have been doing that. Well, people need to make a living and make money somehow. This is why they used these methods.”

“They already say they are ready to talk at the level of the deputy ministers of foreign affairs. They are welcome to. Do you want to talk to the border service? We don’t forbid it. You [Maksim Butranets] talk to them nearly every day. But there are some issues. They need to be resolved together with [Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim] Ryzhenkov or possibly with the prime minister. Come out and talk. We are open for this conversation,” the president assured.

Aleksandr Lukashenko once again underlined that the border service is handling an incredible amount of workload right now: “We keep talking about Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, problems… The border service is the one to feel it first and foremost. Particularly due to these migration flows. Although I say that we don’t really worry about this issue and don’t try to work in the interests of the West, nevertheless, the workload of the border service is very serious. Whether we want it or not, we have to fight against it.”

“I thank the border guard personnel for the great work they are doing in association with the army, our valiant police to protect our borders. When I was young, I was taught that any state begins at the border. This is why if we want to be a state, the border has to be reliable,” the head of state added.

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