Фото: ГТК
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Belarus will return vehicles with Lithuanian registration that have been held in the country since last autumn. According to him, a decision must be made by Monday.
“I must make this decision by Monday. There is no need to delay; I do not want bureaucracy or red tape. This is my principle: I am a systematic person, and I want to resolve this over the weekend,” he said.
Lukashenka recalled that earlier this week Lithuanian and Polish carriers, whose trucks and semi-trailers remain in Belarus, met with Prime Minister Alyaksandr Turchyn. He noted that company representatives had submitted written appeals to him, after which he instructed the government to hold talks.
“I told the government: meet with them and talk in a human way. Sit down at the negotiating table, listen to them, and report back to me. I will make a decision, and I think that from Monday we will begin the process of returning these trucks. We will return them. I feel sorry for the Poles and Lithuanians,” he said, according to his press service.
He added that the cost of storing the trucks at special parking sites — previously set at €120 per day — may be reduced.
“They are asking to lower the parking fee. We understand that if we charge them that price, they will not take back half of these vehicles, because the cost would exceed what they originally paid. We will likely set a European-level fee for them. As they have a small customs fee there. Pay a small amount for parking and take your vehicles,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Ihar Sakreta said that a report on the trucks would be prepared within a week, after which the parking fee would be determined.
Lukashenka also suggested that Poland open additional border crossings to allow the trucks — many of which effectively belong to Polish companies — to be returned.
“Now the Poles say: ‘For God’s sake, do not force us to take these vehicles through Lithuania into Poland.’ I say: ‘Fine, take them through Poland.’ What difference does it make to us? Even through Ukraine! Open any Polish crossing point and take your Polish vehicles with Lithuanian plates. Pay for the parking and take them — the routes are defined. Our State Customs Committee is responsible for resolving this issue on the president’s instruction,” he said.
It should be recalled that Belarus previously allowed Polish trucks to cross the border only via the Belarus–Poland section. Later, after Lithuania closed its border, similar restrictions were applied to Lithuanian-registered vehicles, which are now allowed to cross only via the Belarus–Lithuania section.