MINSK, 22 July (BelTA) – Belarus calls on Lithuania to engage in dialogue to address migration challenges, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ruslan Varankov told the media, BelTA learned.
"It was with sincere curiosity that we have read the statements by Lithuanian border chief Mr. Kisielius about so-called 'fence-climbing courses' for migrants on Belarusian territory. While these ideas are undoubtedly original, they raise several questions. Why don't Lithuanian border guards asked the migrants they detain about the exact locations of these alleged training facilities? Belarus is prepared to organize a joint visit to border areas for Mr. Kisielius and his colleagues to verify this information," Ruslan Varankov stated.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that the key problems of the migration crisis lie somewhere else.
"Why are the Lithuanian authorities still not providing answers regarding the facts of cruel treatment of migrants and not commenting on the role of their own citizens detained for organizing illegal crossings? We call on Lithuanian partners to focus on dialogue, as Belarus has repeatedly proposed, instead of searching for mythical explanations. We, as before, are ready for cooperation based on facts and mutual respect," Ruslan Varankov noted.
"It was with sincere curiosity that we have read the statements by Lithuanian border chief Mr. Kisielius about so-called 'fence-climbing courses' for migrants on Belarusian territory. While these ideas are undoubtedly original, they raise several questions. Why don't Lithuanian border guards asked the migrants they detain about the exact locations of these alleged training facilities? Belarus is prepared to organize a joint visit to border areas for Mr. Kisielius and his colleagues to verify this information," Ruslan Varankov stated.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that the key problems of the migration crisis lie somewhere else.
"Why are the Lithuanian authorities still not providing answers regarding the facts of cruel treatment of migrants and not commenting on the role of their own citizens detained for organizing illegal crossings? We call on Lithuanian partners to focus on dialogue, as Belarus has repeatedly proposed, instead of searching for mythical explanations. We, as before, are ready for cooperation based on facts and mutual respect," Ruslan Varankov noted.
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