Фото: president.gov.by
Alyaksandr Lukashenka will not attend the first meeting of the Peace Council, his press secretary Natallia Eismant said. She explained his absence by issues that cannot be postponed, as well as logistical difficulties related to sanctions.
Earlier, media reported that the first in-person meeting of the Peace Council is expected to take place on February 19 and may be devoted to fundraising for the Gaza Strip. According to Eismant, Lukashenka received an invitation, but the meeting did not fit into his schedule.
“Yes, an invitation to the first meeting of leaders within the framework of the Peace Council was sent to the president of Belarus. Unfortunately, we received it late, and the president’s work schedule for that period had already been planned. Yes, we would have gladly visited the United States of America, but there are issues that cannot be postponed,” she said.
In addition to scheduling issues, logistics also pose difficulties due to sanctions.
“In addition, we are taking into account possible logistical difficulties that may arise due to illegal sanctions, primarily those imposed by the European Union, given the closure of EU airspace.
In this regard, and despite our desire, the president will not be able to take part in this event. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that we fully share the commitment of the U.S. president and the Peace Council to resolving all global conflicts by peaceful means,” Eismant added.
At the same time, Belarus will still be represented at the first meeting of the Peace Council. Lukashenka will be replaced by Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhankou.
“In Washington, our country will be represented by the minister of foreign affairs, who is fully immersed in the subject of the Republic of Belarus’s participation in the Peace Council, as well as other issues of the regional situation and bilateral Belarusian-American relations. The American side has already been informed of this decision,” she added.