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Emmanuel Macron, during a conversation with Aliaksandr Lukashenka, asked about ways to improve relations between Belarus and the European Union and also raised the issue of sanctions on potash fertilizers. Lukashenka told journalists about this on the sidelines of the EAEU summit in Astana on May 29 while discussing his telephone conversation with the French president.
“And he concluded by asking: ‘What can I do? What can we in the European Union do to normalize relations with Belarus?’ I said: ‘Listen, this is more than well known to everyone.’ Well, he mentioned potash fertilizers and a few other things. I said, ‘Come on now,’” Lukashenka said, recounting the exchange with Macron.
Lukashenka stressed that Belarus has reoriented its exports and is currently not experiencing problems with potash supplies, although it would like to transport fertilizers through Lithuania.
“Today, potash and mineral fertilizers are selling at high prices. All volumes have already been contracted. And even if we wanted to supply someone else, we do not have a single tonne of mineral fertilizers available today — not potash, phosphate or nitrogen fertilizers. Everything is already under contract and at a good price.
So for us, the potash issue is something promoted by our ‘quiet little fools,’ the exiles. They keep telling everyone: potash, potash, and nothing else. The markets have already been reconfigured and redirected. Of course, it would be good if we could, as before, load this potash in Lithuania right next door. That would increase profitability even further. But it is not happening, they do not want to meet us halfway. We ship everything through Russia. So it is not a problem,” Lukashenka said.
He also said that Macron had asked him to receive his trusted envoy in Minsk. The meeting is expected to take place next week.
It was previously reported that the United States had unofficially asked Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash to facilitate its transit. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said that the United States had been pressuring Lithuania to allow the transportation of Belarusian fertilizers.