Opinions & Interviews
Makei: The European Union has no strategy concerning Belarus
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MINSK, 10 November (BelTA) – The European Union has no strategy with regard to Belarus. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement after a meeting of the Russian-Belarusian ministerial collegium in Moscow on 10 November, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Makei believes the European Union’s policy is supposed to punish a disobedient country, which has an alternative point of view and makes some steps that serve as an example for third countries.
Asked whether neighboring countries had contacted Belarus with a proposal to discuss the migration crisis, Vladimir Makei said that Belarus is always ready for a constructive dialogue. At the same time Belarus practices a careful attitude to the matter of mediation. “It is necessary to always find the courage to talk even in complicated situations. But if there is no such courage, we are ready to talk, let’s say, to third parties, who can act as intermediaries,” the official said.
Vladimir Makei also said: “Belarus is not the problem. The problem lies on the side of the European Union. Because we see and are convinced that the European Union has no strategy with regard to Belarus. What is the essence of their policy now? They want to punish a recalcitrant country which has a different, alternative point of view, a country which from their point of view has made some inadmissible steps or steps that serve as an example for third countries.”
Vladimir Makei said he referred to the situation with the forced landing of the Ryanair aircraft and to the migration situation. “For representatives of the European Union these facts serve as kind of a proof that such actions can be taken by other countries, that such actions represent a bad example,” he said. “This is why they are intent on punishing disobedient Belarus, which has its own different point of view,” Vladimir Makei believes.
Vladimir Makei believes the approach is absolutely unacceptable. In his words, a dialogue is needed in any case. “But they have painted themselves into a corner and cannot abandon the policy now. At some point they stated that the Belarusian government is illegitimate, that they don’t recognize the current leadership. They don’t know how to get out of this situation,” he continued. “We are getting certain signals, including from Brussels and capital cities of European countries, that it is necessary to fix this situation but they don’t know how. This is why let’s talk at least confidentially, in some basements, in forests, but let’s exchange some messengers, who will allow us to come to some normal relations in the end.”
The Belarusian minister of foreign affairs stressed: “We’ve always stated we are ready to resolve any problems, even sensitive ones, via a dialogue. I repeat we are not the problem. If they are not ready for such a step, we will wait. I am convinced that sooner or later the situation itself will force all sides to move towards it and understand that it is necessary to find solutions to the situation around Belarus now.”
In turn, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that as far as the situation with migrants is concerned, neither Poles, nor Lithuanians, nor anyone else had contacted Russia with requests for possible mediation or some other kind of participation in these discussions. “In my opinion, they contact no one. Instead they simply enjoy their toughness by making such thunderous statements, by accusing Belarus as well as Russia as a country that stands behind these events in Belarus. I believe it is a manifestation of the feeling of their own grandeur and their own impunity in any matter,” the Russian minister of foreign affairs said.
“The fact that Belarus has repeatedly suggested arranging consultations to discuss this situation at the border, to make arrangements, and to resolve these matters on the basis of international humanitarian law is not mentioned in public rhetoric in any way,” Sergey Lavrov stated. “President Lukashenko’s proposal to start consultations immediately after the Ryanair flight incident was turned down in the same manner. Nobody heard it. Although I think there is no other way out but to talk and determine what really happened on the basis of real facts. Our European partners should divert their attention to themselves. There is something to look at there.”
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