News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 21 July (BelTA) – The heads of state should get more involved in the Ukrainian settlement, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Serbia’s First Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic in Minsk on 21 July, BelTA has learned.

"There is war. The heads of state should have met urgently to discuss this problem and take some measures, decisions. If they failed to take these measures, at least they would have a chance to tell each other what they think about each other. So far this is not happening,” the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that his attitude towards the OSCE is ambivalent. On the one hand, it is a very useful organization. "It is very relevant today, when a military conflict is going on in Europe, when there is actually a war between the warring parties. In this situation the OSCE could play a big part,” the Belarusian head of state said. “On the one hand, it is a useful organization that should play a considerable role in ensuring security and cooperation in Europe. On the other hand, the role it plays is not big,” the Belarusian leader said. In his words, the blame is on the organization itself and, first of all, the heads of its member states.

“On the other hand, the OSCE is doing its best to help regulate the conflict in the east of Ukraine. However, with the powers the OSCE has today and no support from the heads of state, the organization can hardly do anything in this situation,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed. This is the reasons why we have new formats like Normandy, Berlin, Minsk and others, the Belarusian leader said. “It could have been done by one organization, the OSCE. It is its function,” the head of state added.