MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) - Belarus demands that Belgium investigate the torching incident at its embassy in Brussels, Spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz told BelTA when asked about the follow-up of the incident.
"Indeed, on the evening of 8 August, unknown persons set fire to one of the entrances to the building of our embassy in Brussels. The resulting fire was quickly extinguished. The incident posed a direct threat to the life and health of the employees who were inside at the moment, and it is very disturbing. In addition, the building of the diplomatic mission sustained damage," Anatoly Glaz said.
According to him, as expected in such situations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the host country demanding an investigation.“We are in our right to demand that the Belgian authorities, within the framework of their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, conduct an investigation, identify those involved in this incident, and bring them to justice. We will provide all necessary assistance,” the spokesman said.
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hopes that Belgium, in accordance with Article 22 of the Vienna Convention, will take all appropriate measures to protect the mission against any intrusion or damage, and to ensure its peaceful operation.
“This is not the first attack on our diplomatic mission in Brussels. Belgium has never satisfied our absolutely legitimate demands to investigate such incidents. For the time being, I would not like to think that this is a deliberate policy of the Belgian authorities,” Anatoly Glaz said.
