Ремигиюс Мотузас. Фото: facebook.com/R.Motuzas
Lithuania was not informed about a possible major US deal to purchase fertilizers from Belarus announced by US President Donald Trump. Vilnius has not changed its position toward Minsk, Chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs Remigijus Motuzas said, BNS reports.
“As of today, we have no grounds for lifting sanctions on Belarus. This is the common position not only of Lithuania but also of the European Union. And these sanctions remain in force until the end of February,” he said.
“Of course, at this stage we cannot influence the US decision or agreement regarding the purchase of fertilizers from Belarus. Time will tell whether the United States succeeds in reaching an agreement to purchase fertilizers from Belarus,” he added.
He stressed that Lithuania continues to regard Belarus as an undemocratic state and sees no changes in the country’s domestic policy despite the release of political prisoners.
“We still consider Belarus an undemocratic state and its president to have been elected in an undemocratic manner. Although political prisoners are being released, nothing is changing in Belarus itself. We see that the opposition continues to be ignored and is practically unable to operate inside the country. Most opposition representatives have left, while those who are active in public life or on social media face imprisonment. Belarus continues to pursue the same policy,” Motuzas said.
He noted that Minsk continues to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, while Lithuania and other neighboring countries have repeatedly faced various hybrid attacks originating from Belarus.
According to the lawmaker, it is too early to comment in detail on a potential deal between the United States and Belarus. He suggested that the move may be aimed at the longer term.
“Recently, we have often heard statements from the US administration that are aimed at the distant future. (…) It would probably be premature to comment in detail on possible transit routes for these fertilizers,” he said.
Deputy Chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs and conservative MP Žygimantas Pavilionis, for his part, described the possible deal as a betrayal of Ukraine and of the principle of solidarity with the EU and Canada.
“We should not forget that in this context we would also be betraying our close ally Canada, whose fertilizers someone in the US administration is trying to replace with Belarusian ones. Let me also remind you that sanctions against Lukashenka were imposed not only by the EU but also by the United States itself — thereby rightly depriving the dictator who stole the election of one of his key sources of income,” the politician wrote on Facebook.
“Since then, the situation in Belarus has deteriorated even further: Lukashenka’s support for Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine is obvious, he continues aggressive hybrid attacks against the West and sows division within it. Trafficking in people and the practice of releasing political prisoners only to replace them with new ones in exchange for sanctions relief are by no means a justification — except perhaps for those who know absolutely nothing about Lukashenka and fail to learn the lessons of history,” he noted.
Earlier today, Donald Trump said that the United States is working on a major deal to purchase potash from Belarus. According to him, US companies could buy the Belarusian product at a lower price than they currently pay for supplies from Canada.