Ryzhankov: European Union, where is your reaction to these humanitarian steps of our president?

Photo: Alexander Nemenov Pool Photo via AP

According to the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, sanctions against Belarus have not yielded results, and the EU understands this but cannot admit its mistake.

“The political system in Belarus and Russia has not changed. The authorities have only further consolidated around their leaders and around those public associations that have formed the basis for the social development of the states.

And at the moment, these sanctions are boomerang-ing more against Europe itself. But to stand up today and say: “We were wrong. Let’s work with Belarus” – not every politician in the European Union can afford to do that. Because they will immediately be told: “So tell us, were these five years, now going on six, thrown away? Years that led to economic problems for the European Union, which became a very serious problem for citizens on both sides of the border, ruptured many multicultural, humanitarian ties.” All this policy is primarily harmful to the countries of the European Union. Someone has to answer for it,” Ryzhankov believes.

Belarus has released some political prisoners and is now awaiting a reaction from the EU, he stated.

“And that's why such calls are heard: 'You know, you in Belarus should do something more than what you are doing, seemingly in some humanitarian coordinates, so that we can save face with our voters and say: 'Look, Belarus has done something.''

But something is being done. You wanted certain people to be released – people who almost brought the situation in our country to collapse. They were released. So where is your reaction to these humanitarian steps of our president? There is none. You say: do something more.

Well, guys, that's not how it works. And besides, if this cooperation is or should be mutually beneficial, then let's take some steps together. There is no such mantra: 'You must, you must, you must,'” the minister said.

Ryzhankov emphasized that Belarus owes nothing to anyone and is doing well, increasing cooperation with Russia, China, Iran, countries of the Middle East, and Africa.

“I will say that over these six years, we have reoriented almost all our main trade. We have lost nothing in exports. Every year there is growth, over the five-year period, it seems, about 40%, and it continues further. We have ensured our technological security. We have ceased to depend on the European Union,” Ryzhankov noted.

By refusing Russian energy carriers and Belarusian products, the European Union has fallen into dependence on the United States of America, believes the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

“Therefore, we are waiting for now, considering all this policy of the European Union as virtually self-isolation. If you look at the borders of the European Union, there are few sections of this border where there are no hostilities or where there are stable countries through which the countries of the European Union can communicate with the rest of the world,” Ryzhankov stated.

The minister noted that the conflict in the Middle East carries catastrophic consequences for the EU, and called for remembering "the stable state of Belarus."

“It's high time for them to come to their senses and remember that there is a stable state of Belarus here, there is this section of the border, through which further – to Russia and to China, to Southeast Asia. But as long as there are such politicians, the peoples of the European Union are their hostages, with the exception, of course, of a few countries with which we are very stably and dynamically developing relations, such as Hungary and Slovakia,” Ryzhankov added.

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