An archive photo
MINSK, 9 December (BelTA) – The drivers of trucks stranded at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border have reacted with understanding to the current situation, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich said on the air of the First News TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“The situation regarding this issue is stable and fully under control today. The drivers have reacted with understanding to the current situation. Of course, it brings them no joy or optimism. People are suffering, they are away from their homes. Although they have been provided with practically all necessary conditions in Belarus. And we even allowed the management of the Lithuanian companies to come, meet with the drivers, and see the conditions in which their trucks and drivers are kept on the Belarusian territory. To their surprise, they admitted: ‘You are way ahead of us. Unfortunately, Lithuania does not offer such conditions for drivers and carriers,’” Aleksandr Volfovich noted.
According to him, all trucks are under reliable guard, and many drivers have gone home to their families.
“Nothing threatens the vehicles, the cargo, or the drivers. We hope the situation will be resolved in the near future,” the state secretary of the Security Council of Belarus emphasized.
As previously reported, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a meeting of the Security Council in Minsk on 9 December. The head of state once again proposed that Lithuania start talks and listed the points of interest to Belarus.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Lithuania is now “starting to kick up a fuss” about the vehicles that remained stranded in Belarus after Vilnius closed the border. “If they [the vehicles] are left abandoned by the roadside, maybe that’s normal in Lithuania. For us, it is unacceptable. We have moved them to guarded parking lots and are providing security so no one can break into them and the cargo is preserved,” the president emphasized. “There is no need to kick up a fuss and make a noise about it. There is no need to involve Americans, Russians, or Ukrainians. That trick won’t work. This issue is solely a subject for our bilateral talks and relations.”
At the same time, the head of state added, Belarus is even ready to purchase the perishable cargo. As for the truck drivers, the necessary conditions for their stay have been created in Belarus. “We are doing everything to ensure things are normal. But they [the Lithuanian side] are scheming and demanding their trucks back,” he stated.
Furthermore, Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined several points that are of interest to the Belarusian side. “Return the 17 or 20 vehicles you stole. I mean the fire trucks that were destined for Zimbabwe. Normalize the operation of our health resort that treated children affected by Chernobyl. They essentially took the facility away from children,” the president emphasized. “And return the money for the port we built there.”
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