Фото: МИД Беларуси
The situation on the Belarus–Lithuania border requires a political and diplomatic solution, and Lithuania has not yet responded to Belarus’ proposal for talks at the level of the two countries’ foreign ministries, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ruslan Varankou.
According to Varankou, the Lithuanian side proposed holding a meeting of deputy heads of border agencies next week.
“So far, we have not received a response from the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry to our proposal. Instead, we have received a proposal from the Lithuanian side to hold a meeting early next week at the level of deputy heads of the border services of the two countries to discuss combating cross-border crime. This initiative fully aligns with the steps Minsk has been proposing to Vilnius for years: cooperation in the field of protecting and controlling the state border. And we certainly welcome it!” Varankou said.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry believes that the border issue should be resolved not at the level of border agencies but at the political and diplomatic level.
“However, such cooperation does not resolve the issue of reopening border checkpoints unilaterally closed by the Lithuanian side and restoring the movement of people, vehicles and cargo through them. Once again, we emphasise that given the complex nature of this matter, its solution is possible only at the political and diplomatic level, which is exactly what citizens of Belarus, Lithuania and other states, including the EU, expect from us. The Belarusian side is ready for this,” Varankou stressed.
Belarus is also proposing that Lithuania reverse its decision to close the border.
“But there is another, simpler option that does not require negotiations: the Lithuanian side can simply reverse its unilateral decision to close the border,” the Foreign Ministry representative said.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginene confirmed on 12 November that the Lithuanian side had received a letter from Minsk proposing the start of talks and pledged to take the necessary decisions. Lithuania’s interior minister said yesterday that a technical meeting was planned for 14 November to discuss the issue of meteorological probes. Today, the Lithuanian side stated that Belarus had proposed moving the talks to 18 November following Poland’s announcement that it would open two border checkpoints.