Sergey Lavrov/TASS
MOSCOW, 11 November (BelTA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Lithuania's actions on the border with Belarus as ‘antics’ as he talked to Russian media, BelTA has learned.
Sergey Lavrov stated that Lithuania, in addition to its constant threats to block the Kaliningrad transit, has now closed the border with Belarus. “Some figures, not in Lithuania anymore but in the European Union, while egging on the Balts, are even talking about razing Kaliningrad to the ground. And now Lithuania has closed the border with Belarus. Moreover, by closing the border, they have left hundreds of trucks belonging to Lithuanian carriers stranded on the territory of the neighboring Republic of Belarus,” he said.
“This is an outrageous action. No one in the European Union has condemned Lithuania's actions. Excuse me, but the Americans have repeatedly said regarding dictators in Latin America and Central America: 'Yes, this dictator is a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch.' This is the same attitude that the European masters have toward the Balts and their antics,” the Russian top diplomat said.
According to him, Lithuania and other Baltic states are “assigned the role of causing as much mischief as possible in relations with the Russian Federation”. “And, in doing so, to provoke Russia into actions that they will then try to sell to Washington, first and foremost, as grounds for initiating serious military operations based on Article 5 of the NATO Washington Treaty. We see this,” Sergey Lavrov stated.
He also pointed out that the obligations regarding Kaliningrad transit were undertaken not only by Lithuania but also by the European Union. “Therefore, the European Union, of course, should think about the responsibility it bears for the behavior of these now out-of-control kids of theirs,” he said.
In this regard, he recalled that in 2004, when decisions were being prepared on the admission of the Baltic states to the EU, the Russian side expressed its concerns to the Europeans that the Baltic countries were not yet mature enough to meet the criteria for European Union membership. “They told us: 'Well, it's clear, they fall short in some areas.' But we asked then: 'Does it make sense to immediately drag such unprepared candidates into the EU?'” Sergey Lavrov noted. “They told us: 'You know, we understand what you're talking about. After gaining independence, they have retained all sorts of phobias; they remember the ‘occupation’ and these phobias of theirs won't just disappear. But once we accept them into the EU and NATO, they will calm down’.”
“Have they calmed down? It seems to me, quite the opposite. Not only have they not calmed down, they have decided that they will now call the tune both in the EU and in NATO, at least when it comes to overtly Russophobic anti-Russian rhapsodies,” Sergey Lavrov said.
Sergey Lavrov stated that Lithuania, in addition to its constant threats to block the Kaliningrad transit, has now closed the border with Belarus. “Some figures, not in Lithuania anymore but in the European Union, while egging on the Balts, are even talking about razing Kaliningrad to the ground. And now Lithuania has closed the border with Belarus. Moreover, by closing the border, they have left hundreds of trucks belonging to Lithuanian carriers stranded on the territory of the neighboring Republic of Belarus,” he said.
“This is an outrageous action. No one in the European Union has condemned Lithuania's actions. Excuse me, but the Americans have repeatedly said regarding dictators in Latin America and Central America: 'Yes, this dictator is a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch.' This is the same attitude that the European masters have toward the Balts and their antics,” the Russian top diplomat said.
According to him, Lithuania and other Baltic states are “assigned the role of causing as much mischief as possible in relations with the Russian Federation”. “And, in doing so, to provoke Russia into actions that they will then try to sell to Washington, first and foremost, as grounds for initiating serious military operations based on Article 5 of the NATO Washington Treaty. We see this,” Sergey Lavrov stated.
He also pointed out that the obligations regarding Kaliningrad transit were undertaken not only by Lithuania but also by the European Union. “Therefore, the European Union, of course, should think about the responsibility it bears for the behavior of these now out-of-control kids of theirs,” he said.
In this regard, he recalled that in 2004, when decisions were being prepared on the admission of the Baltic states to the EU, the Russian side expressed its concerns to the Europeans that the Baltic countries were not yet mature enough to meet the criteria for European Union membership. “They told us: 'Well, it's clear, they fall short in some areas.' But we asked then: 'Does it make sense to immediately drag such unprepared candidates into the EU?'” Sergey Lavrov noted. “They told us: 'You know, we understand what you're talking about. After gaining independence, they have retained all sorts of phobias; they remember the ‘occupation’ and these phobias of theirs won't just disappear. But once we accept them into the EU and NATO, they will calm down’.”
“Have they calmed down? It seems to me, quite the opposite. Not only have they not calmed down, they have decided that they will now call the tune both in the EU and in NATO, at least when it comes to overtly Russophobic anti-Russian rhapsodies,” Sergey Lavrov said.
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