MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) – Belarus is not and cannot be a source of illegal migration to the European Union by definition, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov said during a session on migration at the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security on 28 October, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus is not a source of illegal migration and cannot be one by definition. Among the illegal migrants detained at the border [with the European Union], there are no Belarusian citizens. We are not creating problems in this regard,” the minister said.
The minister cited data showing that taking into account all other routes, no more than 0.5% of the total number of illegal migrants enter the EU from the eastern direction through Belarus. “Yet the noise and accusations are much greater than anywhere else,” he added.
Maxim Ryzhenkov stressed that Belarus, despite the rhetoric of its EU neighbors, also stands against illegal migration. A lot of measures have been taken to alleviate the pressure of the migration problem in the direction of the EU.
According to the minister, these included the cancellation of flights by certain airlines and the tightening of visa regulations with specific countries. In some cases, this has even harmed Belarus' economic and political relations with these countries. “But we did this. Today the EU itself acknowledges it. Migrants detained at the border do not have Belarusian visas. It is completely incorrect to accuse Belarus of facilitating illegal migration,” the minister underlined.
“The main issue at the border is that the so-called migration policy of the EU, which is not really a policy at all, results in enormous casualties among ordinary people (from Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Syria). Their relatives often have no idea what has happened to them,” Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
He noted that in many cases it is not even known where these migrants are buried in neighboring states, or their bodies are thrown onto Belarusian territory without any documents, making it impossible to identify them.
At the same time, the minister assured that Belarus is also concerned about the situation on its western border, as it undermines cross-border cooperation and normal contacts between people and border regions. “All of this has led to nothing, and it is not Belarus’ fault. The EU does not follow these norms regarding our border. We are only seen as an enemy, labeled as some kind of violator. Meanwhile, multi-meter fences with barbed wire are being erected on our border, ditches are being dug, and anti-tank ‘dragon’s teeth’ are being installed,” he stated.
Moreover, he pointed out that some neighboring countries have already begun laying mines near the Belarusian border and are withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which they once strongly supported joining.
The diplomat attributed such increased attention to migration issues from Belarus' neighbors to their desire “to demonstrate their importance to the EU”. “And then we see: ‘Give us money for border infrastructure, for the armed forces, for countering migration.’ Why so brazenly make money at our expense?” he asked rhetorically.
Furthermore, the minister called on EU member states to deal with their own criminal gangs that profit immensely from human trafficking and smuggling. “Here is a paradox: today, the EU would rather spend hundreds of millions on building fences, laying minefields, and endangering the lives of its own and other countries’ citizens than resolve problems diplomatically together with us.”
Given that cooperation on migration and other areas has been severed, the minister stated that Belarus sees no reason to spend its own resources to protect the EU’s border. Describing the situation, he said: “Citizens are held at the border for days, children are crying, their last bottle of water, even sandwiches are taken away. Buses are turned back, even though passengers there have plane tickets from Warsaw or Vilnius. These are inhumane things. If the European Union wants this kind of image in our country, then it will have it. But this does not contribute to achieving goals and objectives.”
The minister assured that Belarus remains willing to restore cooperation, pending reciprocal steps from the EU. “Our primary goal is to establish such a framework for our relations with the neighboring states that will serve as the basis for substantive work to prevent all kinds of threats, from illegal migration to smuggling, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking,” he stated.
Maxim Ryzhenkov emphasized that without improving overall bilateral relations, border issues cannot be sustainably resolved. “Any dialogue turns challenges into opportunities, but only together can we make it effective,” he noted.
He expressed confidence that secure borders can only be achieved through joint effort, a principle Belarus has always upheld. He concluded: “There are no unsolvable issues. All that is needed is the good political will of both sides.”
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