MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) –Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov touched on the topic of movement across Belarus’ border with the EU as he addressed the high-level panel discussion of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 February, BelTA has learned.
Maksim Ryzhenkov noted: “The EU restricts, directly or indirectly, the right of not only its citizens to travel across our border with the EU, but also citizens of Belarus and Russia.”
The head of the ministry explained: “I am not referring to everyone in the European Union, but to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. By the way, we know what they are afraid of - the truth. The truth that their citizens will bring back from their trip to our countries. Paradoxical situation! Some 40 years ago, the West imposed sanctions against the USSR for restricting the rights of Soviet citizens to travel abroad, so that they would not, as they said at the time, bring back ‘capitalist truth’.”
“The refugee rights have always been a 'sacred issue' in human rights. Today The Times writes that the European Union is drawing up a plan to overhaul the post-war convention on refugees in order to reduce their rights. Never mind the climate agenda and related human rights,” Maksim Ryzhenkov noted.
“How can the ‘undemocratic’ Belarus, as the West labels us, keep up with such ‘swings’ because you can't figure it out for yourselves?” Maksim Ryzhenkov asked a rhetorical question.
Maksim Ryzhenkov noted: “The EU restricts, directly or indirectly, the right of not only its citizens to travel across our border with the EU, but also citizens of Belarus and Russia.”
The head of the ministry explained: “I am not referring to everyone in the European Union, but to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. By the way, we know what they are afraid of - the truth. The truth that their citizens will bring back from their trip to our countries. Paradoxical situation! Some 40 years ago, the West imposed sanctions against the USSR for restricting the rights of Soviet citizens to travel abroad, so that they would not, as they said at the time, bring back ‘capitalist truth’.”
“The refugee rights have always been a 'sacred issue' in human rights. Today The Times writes that the European Union is drawing up a plan to overhaul the post-war convention on refugees in order to reduce their rights. Never mind the climate agenda and related human rights,” Maksim Ryzhenkov noted.
“How can the ‘undemocratic’ Belarus, as the West labels us, keep up with such ‘swings’ because you can't figure it out for yourselves?” Maksim Ryzhenkov asked a rhetorical question.
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