MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – European diplomats continue trying to interfere with Belarus' domestic affairs, including by attempting to put pressure on the court system. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement in response to yet another attempt of a diplomat of the European Union Delegation to Belarus to attend a court session, BelTA has learned.
Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz said: “As a matter of principle, it is absurd from the point of view of diplomatic work. It discredits the very notion of diplomacy itself. Let me explain. There is a universally recognized legally binding document – the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It clearly identifies functions of diplomatic missions and those do not include hanging around in courts and evaluating the work of the court system, prosecutors, or lawyers. Western diplomats do not have the necessary competences for it either. They at least need an appropriate education for that.”
The official remarked that the convention stipulates that, for instance, diplomats shall not interfere with domestic affairs of the host country and shall do all the official business with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or via this ministry.
The convention also stipulates respect for laws and resolutions, the observance of the procedure for going into places with restricted access, and so on.
Anatoly Glaz went on saying: “In July 2021 we sent an additional note to the European Union Delegation to Belarus and a number of embassies. The note absolutely clearly and unambiguously explained how these diplomats can visit Belarusian government agencies. Just in case the European Union has a Vienna Convention that differs from the one accepted by the international community. We were forced to do it in response to unfriendly steps against our country and the restrictions introduced against our diplomats. As a result we see deliberate attempts of some people to blatantly violate all of it.”
Anatoly Glaz stated it had not been the first time: “How should we treat it? It is fanfaronade and a totally obvious and deliberate provocation. An attempt to nudge the Belarusian side towards some more drastic steps. The goal is also understandable: to provoke a scandal and make a name for oneself in order to avoid being transferred to more exotic and hotter regions. Which by the way has already happened to some ‘great' Western diplomats, who have noisily left Belarus.”
The press secretary stated that Brussels had already been notified about the principled stance of the Belarusian side. “The European Union charge d'affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and warned for the last time about possible consequences of such provocations. She was told about the use of additional response measures by the Belarusian side with regard to the European Union Delegation to Belarus,” Anatoly Glaz said.
