MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – Disagreements between Libyan diplomats was the reason for the Libyan Embassy incident, Anatoly Glaz, Head of the Information and Digital Diplomacy Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BelTA.
“According to our information, the incident was caused by internal divisions between Libyan diplomats. In addition to accredited diplomats and administrative and technical personnel, the embassy employs people guarding the embassy diplomats. There were no complaints of injuries or beatings from any of the parties to the conflict. No one was detained by law enforcement,” Anatoly Glaz noted.
According to law enforcement agencies, on 27 August at about 6 in the morning a group of people entered the territory of the Libyan Embassy in Minsk. A lock-up device of the gate was cut off and the door was breached in the building of the diplomatic mission (a window was broken). A group of representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrived at the scene. “However, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, they cannot enter the embassy without an invitation," the spokesman explained.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation around the Libyan Embassy in Minsk. In accordance with the international law, Belarus cannot and will not interfere with the internal affairs of a foreign diplomatic mission. Yet, any action that violates public order contradicts the Vienna Convention. Senior diplomats at the Libyan Embassy have been notified about the responsibility for threatening public order and security by their actions,” said Anatoly Glaz.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen community policing in the area of the Libyan diplomatic mission.
“We call to resolve all contentious issues and reach mutual understanding through negotiations,” the official added.