Pavel Muraveiko. Image credit: ONT
MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) – The migrant crisis at the Belarusian-Polish border has been provoked and initiated by Poland. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister, Major-General Pavel Muraveiko made the statement on the air of the Belarusian TV channel ONT, BelTA has learned.
Pavel Muraveiko suggested recalling how the so-called migrant crisis started several years ago. “In that period the European Union stopped giving subsidies to Poland for developing the country’s economy and building the ‘Polish wonder’ in Europe. The European Commission presented Poland with a number of problems and critical remarks concerning the coal industry, trade, the closure of individual farming enterprises, and other matters. France and Germany were Europe’s locomotives in that period. What did Poland do then? If you don’t want to give us money, if you complain about us (the European Commission charged Poland with massive penalties for shortcomings and for failing to make decisions concerning the coal industry), we will create conditions, in which you will be forced to give us money, forced to pay us,” the officer said.
“The Polish government found no better ideas than to create barriers at the border. As a result, Europe started receiving less merchandise. In other words, France and Germany did. An information campaign was launched to portray Poland as the only outpost at the border between evil Belarus and entire Europe. Conditions were enabled for resuming the financing of the Polish economy, for the allocation of certain financial assets,” he pointed out.
Pavel Muraveiko supported speculations that Poland had done it to inflate its own significance by means of creating problems. “This is how I see it from the geostrategic and geopolitical points of view. Poland demonstrated that Europe needs this country. Poland was promised the necessary funds once again. They were ready to sign contracts with Poland, develop the Polish army, and so on. This is why all the accusations thrown by Polish leadership against the Republic of Belarus are nothing but a mirror reflection of their own actions,” the General Staff chief stressed.
“This crisis was provoked by Poland. This crisis was initiated by Poland. Moreover, it has already been proved and an investigation into how visas were sold to these migrants is already in progress in Poland. A dozen people are already being investigated by the prosecution service over there,” Pavel Muraveiko summarized.
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