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Lithuanian president in favor of political dialogue with Belarus

Gitanas Nauseda. Photo courtesy of EPA-EFE

MINSK, 9 September (BelTA) – A political dialogue between Lithuania and Belarus would serve interests of both countries despite the current differences of opinion, TASS quoted Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda as saying.

The president said: “We cannot disregard differences of opinion about the nuclear power plant being built in Ostrovets and about other matters but we have to establish normal contacts.”

In his opinion, it is unwise to ignore a neighboring country. “It is not normal if you insulate yourself with trenches and fail to notice that you have a neighbor,” the Lithuanian president noted.

Gitanas Nauseda described the relations with Belarus established during Dalia Grybauskaite’s presidency as frozen. “I don’t know whether it will be beneficial for us if the current state of affairs lasts,” the Lithuanian leader said.

Gitanas Nauseda called for abandoning double approaches, which are pursued in economy on the one hand and in politics on the other hand. “We have economic and logistics ties with Belarus. There are considerable Lithuanian investments in Belarus but once we start talking about a political dialogue, everyone starts looking at each other and tries to turn away as fast as possible,” he noted.

The Lithuanian leader said he believes it is necessary to start small. “We will start carefully, little by little,” he said. In his opinion, a lot also depends on Belarus’ willingness to cooperate.

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