"For some reason, it is advantageous for the Lithuanian side to consider this a hybrid threat," states Deputy Minister Ihar Sekreta.
Cigarette smuggling into Lithuania is ordinary cross-border crime that must be fought with joint efforts, and not a hybrid threat, as the Lithuanian side tries to present it. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ihar Sekreta following the meeting of Prime Minister Alexander Turchin with Lithuanian and Polish carriers, writes BelTA.
"There are many issues in bilateral relations with Lithuania. These include security issues, law enforcement issues, and, probably, the already annoying for everyone issues of cigarette smuggling balloons," said Ihar Sekreta.
— "What prevents us from reaching an agreement is that we have a different understanding of what is happening at the border today. For some reason, it is advantageous for the Lithuanian side to consider this a hybrid threat, because hybrid threats are generously paid for in Europe, it is shocking, impressive, and requires no further discussion. However, we believe that we are dealing with ordinary cross-border crime, in which representatives of different countries participate. If there is a price difference, there will always be a temptation to bypass regulations and profit from it. This, in fact, has always been the case at the shared border, as long as there was a price difference."
He emphasized that cross-border crime must be fought jointly — through cooperation and dialogue. "But if it's about opportunistic reasons, then an information bomb is needed, which 'explodes' and attracts a lot of attention in the EU countries. And that means completely different money. We say: let's work together and earn from cargo transportation, from joint scientific and cultural activities. Let's open the border and make it predictable and safe for citizens of all countries — not just for Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland," the Deputy Minister noted.
We remind that due to smuggling balloons, the operation of Vilnius Airport was disrupted several times, Lithuania consequently closed its border with Belarus for three weeks, and the Belarusian authorities in response did not allow Lithuanian trucks to pass.
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