MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – Belarus has prepared measures in response to new sanctions of the European Union. Anatoly Glaz, Head of the Information and Digital Diplomacy Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the statement when asked about the response of the Belarusian side to the Council of the European Union's decision to approve the third package of sanctions against Belarus, BelTA has learned.
The official said: “We've sketched out prospects in this context more than once, rather thoroughly and at different levels. So, they should be understandable for our European partners. A totally stupid and short-sighted decision, which is flawed in every aspect and will only lead to negative consequences, including for the high goals and ideals the European Union allegedly stands for.”
In his opinion, such steps have never managed to achieve declared goals in the past and will fail now as well. “We have no illusions that this primitive component is part of the large-scale targeted campaign to put massive pressure on our country. An ordinary attempt to interfere in domestic affairs of an independent state, support for which sovereignty our European partners like to ramble so much about,” the spokesman of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “There are no more doubts that these steps are designed to harm interests of common Belarusians indeed.”
“Our reciprocal measures have already been prepared. Some of them are quite biting. Certain European opponents should not be surprised and should not try to shift the blame later on. Everything is absolutely clear,” Anatoly Glaz stressed.
He also stated that Belarus will take adequate actions to protect rights and legal interests of its citizens and legal persons. “Everyone will get help. Because some of the decisions that have been made are more than absurd. They simply discredit common sense. What thousands of the workers employed by the sanctioned companies are guilty of? We expect not only Belarusian trade unions but the International Federation of Trade Unions and other relevant organizations to pay close attention to the matter. The situation is perfectly obvious,” the official said.
Anatoly Glaz went on saying: “How did a Belarusian doctor, an oncologist, who has been saving lives for all his life, a former healthcare minister scare the European Union so much? Is it a side effect of science fiction when you see Doctor Evil behind every action? We've also mentioned discrimination against a Belarusian reporter, whose only fault is that he presented an opinion that some may not like and that may be different from the European Union's.”
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that international journalist organizations and associations do not divide their colleagues into good ones and bad one. The ministry hopes that they will speak up to protect the Belarusian reporter just like they did in other cases. “The tools are available and we will use them,” the press secretary noted.
“What is wrong with the Belarusian IT industry from the point of view of the European Union is unclear either. But one thing is clear: initiators of such actions should bear responsibility for every specific damage they've caused, including economic damage. This brazen voluntarism of European desk jockeys must stop at some point. We will try to avoid a repeat of the past situation when resolutions were recognized illegal but no persons responsible were found,” Anatoly Glaz stressed.
“We are convinced that the existing differences of opinion can be settled only through an open, equal, and mutually respectful dialogue. We are ready and have always been ready for such a dialogue,” the official concluded.
