MINSK, 25 November (BelTA) – The Germany-Belarus Friendship Society has published a statement on its website in order to address the current situation in Belarusian-European relations, BelTA has learned.
This organization unites German and Belarusian citizens. The statement reads that the Germany-Belarus Friendship Society is alarmed by the current crisis between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus particularly due to difficulties or, to be precise, the impossibility of interaction with the people of the Republic of Belarus, the impossibility of achieving outlined goals in the area of culture, sport, and science as well as many other friendly initiatives being implemented between Germany and Belarus.
The other day two representatives of the society's board of directors Edgar Weiler and Franz Blum remarked that visiting Belarus or organizing conferences in the country is currently impossible or possible only while dealing with substantial difficulties. The intense situation at the European Union's eastern borders (or western borders of the Republic of Belarus) has had an effect as well.
According to the Germany-Belarus Friendship Society, this extremely dangerous situation can be resolved by initiating and continuing extensive diplomatic negotiations at all levels. Negotiations with Belarus initiated by the acting federal chancellor of Germany and the European Union representative for foreign affairs look reassuring in this regard. These measures should be continued, deepened, and augmented.
“It is possible to find a way out of all crises and reach steady results only through dialogue instead of restrictive measures. As a rule, sanctions influence only the economic component of the relative wellbeing of a significant part of the population, mainly the poorer part of the population,” the statement reads.
The existing restrictions on travels have impeded cooperation of over 100 organizations of German and Belarusian twinned cities, initiatives meant to help children in Chernobyl-affected areas, and multiple other humanitarian projects within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
