MINSK, 12 November (BelTA) - Belarus is in favor of restoring the normal functioning of its border with Lithuania as soon as possible, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov told the media following his report to the president on 12 November, BelTA has learned.
“The president has been briefed on the situation at the border and on the measures being taken by Belarus to resolve this situation promptly and to reopen the border crossing points. This is first and foremost in the interests of people - citizens of Belarus, Lithuania, as well as citizens of third countries who used this border for their travel. The president has given appropriate instructions on how to accelerate the process of restoring normal relations with Lithuania regarding the functioning of the state border,” the minister said. “Belarus is fully in favor of the swiftest restoration of the normal functioning of the Belarusian-Lithuanian state border. This includes the operation of all border crossing points stipulated by our legal framework, and the restoration of normal cooperation between the relevant services that ensure the border's functioning.”
According to minister, these include the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation, the Treaty on the State Border Rules, the Agreement on Border Crossing Points, the Agreement on Road Transport, and the Agreement on the Transit of Belarusian Goods through Lithuanian Infrastructure.
“The unilateral actions of Lithuania were inconsistent with these agreements, violating not only their spirit but also the legal letter of these documents. Furthermore, a whole range of conventions and international treaties, to which both Belarus and Lithuania are parties, were also violated,” the minister said.
He once again emphasized that Belarus is committed to resolving the situation as soon as possible. “Given that the situation has now escalated well beyond the authority of the authorized border services of our two countries, it has been decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now handle further negotiations with Lithuania. This is because the next steps must involve a whole range of political and diplomatic measures. Measures which, we believe, are aimed at a swift resolution of the situation and the restoration of the normal functioning of our border in the interests of citizens of both countries,” Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
He stated that the corresponding proposals have been sent to Lithuania through the authorized border agencies, and Belarus is awaiting an appropriate response.
“I sincerely hope that if Lithuania is truly ready to uphold the interests of its own citizens and to align its actions with the needs and demands of the businesses who are currently suffering from these unilateral measures by the Republic of Lithuania, then it will respond positively to our proposals in the near future. We are ready for talks at any moment, in any location, and without any preconditions,” the minister emphasized.
In his words, the Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs was quick to announce that he “will not be meeting with Minister Ryzhenkov at this time”. “He said that to the press, but that does not mean a conversation will not take place,” Maxim Ryzhenkov remarked.
“The unilateral actions of Lithuania were inconsistent with these agreements, violating not only their spirit but also the legal letter of these documents. Furthermore, a whole range of conventions and international treaties, to which both Belarus and Lithuania are parties, were also violated,” the minister said.
He once again emphasized that Belarus is committed to resolving the situation as soon as possible. “Given that the situation has now escalated well beyond the authority of the authorized border services of our two countries, it has been decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now handle further negotiations with Lithuania. This is because the next steps must involve a whole range of political and diplomatic measures. Measures which, we believe, are aimed at a swift resolution of the situation and the restoration of the normal functioning of our border in the interests of citizens of both countries,” Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
He stated that the corresponding proposals have been sent to Lithuania through the authorized border agencies, and Belarus is awaiting an appropriate response.
“I sincerely hope that if Lithuania is truly ready to uphold the interests of its own citizens and to align its actions with the needs and demands of the businesses who are currently suffering from these unilateral measures by the Republic of Lithuania, then it will respond positively to our proposals in the near future. We are ready for talks at any moment, in any location, and without any preconditions,” the minister emphasized.
In his words, the Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs was quick to announce that he “will not be meeting with Minister Ryzhenkov at this time”. “He said that to the press, but that does not mean a conversation will not take place,” Maxim Ryzhenkov remarked.
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