MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) - Belarus will respond to the EU sanctions, the Belarusian Ministry of foreign Affairs said in a statement, BelTA has learned.
"Belarus has always opposed, in words and deeds, confrontation. We are for dialogue and understanding. But being a sovereign state, we will respond decisively, though with regret, to the unfriendly actions in order to protect our national interests," the ministry said.
In connection with the visa sanctions adopted by the EU against a number of Belarusian officials, Belarus is imposing the retaliatory sanctions list today. “In accordance with the established civilized diplomatic practice, we will not make it public,” the ministry said. "The uniform travel ban blacklist also operates within the framework of the integration associations, which Belarus is part of."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the further promotion of the EU sanction action could lead to even more serious consequences, such as the withdrawal of Belarus from joint programs and projects, the revision of the level and modality of the diplomatic presence up to a decision on whether to maintain diplomatic relations.
Belarus calls on the European Union to abandon its promises of “mountains and marvels” to Belarusians and to double down instead on joint efforts to address common challenges such as illegal migration, international crime and terrorism, the pandemic of infectious diseases and their social and economic impact, which Europe and the entire world are yet to fully experience.
“Instead of building new visa fences, we call on the European Union to open the borders to all Belarusians, not only to those ‘selected' by you,” the ministry said.
“The EU threatens us that it will reconsider its relations with Belarus. It will be the their choice. Belarus, for its part, is also ready for such a review of relations and will continue to respond adequately to any unfriendly actions. Attempts to impose on Belarusians some externally approved representatives, the designs of some ‘governments in exile' and the like are doomed to failure. The fate of such structures is sad - before they start, they find themselves on the sidelines of the historical process,” stressed the Belarusian ministry.
