Фото: Пул первого
Alyaksandr Lukashenka again insisted that Belarus and Lithuania must begin direct negotiations. Speaking at today’s meeting of the Security Council, he said Lithuanian politicians should stop “making noise,” avoid involving third countries, and resolve all issues through bilateral dialogue.
He noted that Lithuanian officials are now “screaming at the top of their lungs” over the trucks left in Belarus after Vilnius closed the border. Despite the border reopening on 20 November, Lithuanian hauliers’ vehicles have not left Belarus.
“If they lie abandoned on the roadside, maybe that’s normal in Lithuania. For us it is unacceptable. We placed them in parking areas, guarding them so that no one tampers with the vehicles and the cargo is preserved. No need to shout and make a fuss. No need to bring in Americans, Russians or Ukrainians. That won’t work. This issue lies strictly within the framework of our negotiations and our bilateral relations,” he said.
Lukashenka expressed confidence that he could find common ground with the Lithuanian people.
“We will always reach an understanding with the people of Lithuania — just as with the Poles. They are our people. And if you want normal relations, sit down at the negotiating table and discuss these problems. We are ready. There are no other options,” he stated.
He added that Belarus is prepared to buy perishable goods stuck in the lorries and that conditions for drivers in Belarus are adequate.
“We are doing everything to make things normal. And now they start wriggling around — poking their heads out from under the carpet or the skirting board: ‘Give us back those trucks!’” he said.
Lukashenka also laid out several demands to Lithuania:
“Return the 17 or 20 vehicles you stole from us — the fire engines destined for Zimbabwe. Normalise the work of our sanatorium where we treated Chernobyl children. They effectively seized that sanatorium from the kids. And return the money for the port we built there,” he said.
Earlier today, Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Sekreta said Belarus had proposed holding consultations at deputy-minister level on the margins of last week’s OSCE Ministerial Council — a proposal Lithuania rejected. Vilnius has now declared a nationwide state of emergency because of smuggling balloons launched from Belarus and is pushing for new EU sanctions. President Gitanas Nausėda has also said the confiscation of Belarusian assets in Lithuania may be considered.
Lukashenka addressed the issue of the smuggling balloons, claiming that such flights are now impossible and accusing Lithuania of staging a provocation.
“Experts told me the matter has been studied thoroughly, even with civil aviation pilots. What Lithuania is claiming today is impossible, unrealistic. Even if these balloons did cross the border, even if they flew, pilots tell me: ‘This poses no problem at all.’ They are inflating the issue, politicising it. Why? Do they really want a war? We don’t need a war — and I’m sure the Lithuanian people don’t either, just like the Poles, Latvians and Estonians. We’ve had enough of war,” he said.
He stressed that U.S. involvement will not help Lithuania.
“They chose this path and think Americans will come and pressure me. Listen, we have completely reshaped ourselves. If we stay active and work hard in the economy — from Vitebsk to Homel — we will have no problems at all. Many parts of the world are waiting for us with our technologies and goods. If we slightly improve quality (though no one complains about it), we will have no competitors,” Lukashenka concluded.