Belarus is ready to address all contentious issues, but with no preconditions, Belarus’ MFA spokesperson Ruslan Varankou told RIA Novosti when asked to comment on the statements by Lithuania’s President and PM, sb.by reports citing Belarus’ Foreign Ministry
Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene had stated that Vilnius would consider the possibility of a meeting between Lithuanian and Belarusian deputy foreign ministers only if Minsk meets three conditions as follows: cease weather balloon flyovers across the border, allow trucks detained in Belarus to return without fines, and stop flows of illegal migrants.
Meanwhile, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda had emphasised that dialogue is only possible if Belarus shows ‘neighborly goodwill’.
Replying to journalists’ question as to how Belarus’ Foreign Ministry assesses the proposal and Lithuania’s conditions, Ruslan Varankou noted, “Minsk has repeatedly and very clearly stated: we are ready to discuss any problematic issues without any preliminary conditions. This is a basic principle understood by everyone, including our partners across the ocean — the recent visit of U.S. Special Envoy John Cole clearly confirmed this. The artificial ultimatums that Vilnius is attempting to put forward have nothing to do with good neighbourliness or normal diplomatic practice.”
Belarus has not asked any third parties for mediation services, the Foreign Ministry emphasised, “Initiatives voiced by external partners represent their own vision. We are ready to consider such proposals, but not at anyone’s dictation. If we are to speak of ‘neighbourly goodwill’, the Lithuanian side currently faces many questions that Lithuanian society demands answers to – ranging from border operations and the ability to visit relatives or tend to the graves of loved ones, to severed business ties with Belarus. We do not intend to solve these issues alone. Moreover, they lie within the sphere of Lithuania's own interests. Their leadership will have to answer for this to their own people.”
“If our Lithuanian colleagues are not currently inclined toward an equal conversation and prefer to publicly list demands instead of sitting down at the negotiating table – well, the refusal to resolve accumulated issues remains on their conscience. For our part, openness to constructive dialogue remains,” the MFA spokesperson added.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene had stated that Vilnius would consider the possibility of a meeting between Lithuanian and Belarusian deputy foreign ministers only if Minsk meets three conditions as follows: cease weather balloon flyovers across the border, allow trucks detained in Belarus to return without fines, and stop flows of illegal migrants.
Meanwhile, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda had emphasised that dialogue is only possible if Belarus shows ‘neighborly goodwill’.
Replying to journalists’ question as to how Belarus’ Foreign Ministry assesses the proposal and Lithuania’s conditions, Ruslan Varankou noted, “Minsk has repeatedly and very clearly stated: we are ready to discuss any problematic issues without any preliminary conditions. This is a basic principle understood by everyone, including our partners across the ocean — the recent visit of U.S. Special Envoy John Cole clearly confirmed this. The artificial ultimatums that Vilnius is attempting to put forward have nothing to do with good neighbourliness or normal diplomatic practice.”
Belarus has not asked any third parties for mediation services, the Foreign Ministry emphasised, “Initiatives voiced by external partners represent their own vision. We are ready to consider such proposals, but not at anyone’s dictation. If we are to speak of ‘neighbourly goodwill’, the Lithuanian side currently faces many questions that Lithuanian society demands answers to – ranging from border operations and the ability to visit relatives or tend to the graves of loved ones, to severed business ties with Belarus. We do not intend to solve these issues alone. Moreover, they lie within the sphere of Lithuania's own interests. Their leadership will have to answer for this to their own people.”
“If our Lithuanian colleagues are not currently inclined toward an equal conversation and prefer to publicly list demands instead of sitting down at the negotiating table – well, the refusal to resolve accumulated issues remains on their conscience. For our part, openness to constructive dialogue remains,” the MFA spokesperson added.
