Nausėda: Dialogue with Minsk is possible only if Belarus shows good neighborly will

Photo: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The US envoy previously noted in an interview with LRT that Washington would like Lithuania and Belarus "to start resolving the problems that arise between them, so that trade can be opened between the two countries, trade with Europe and the United States."

Meanwhile, the President of Lithuania emphasized that the issue of sanctions against Belarus is being resolved at the European Union level, LRT reports.

"First of all, I want to point out — I told this to the special envoy as well — that the issue of fertilizers is being resolved at the European Union level. Quite recently, the sanctions were extended for another 12 months. They were introduced much earlier and are related not so much to the current hybrid attacks, but to human rights violations, to the illegitimate presidential elections of 2020. And, of course, to Belarus' actual involvement in Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine," he stated.

John Kohle expressed hope that Lithuania would agree to hold a bilateral meeting with Belarus at the level of deputy ministers. Relations between the US and Belarus warmed after Donald Trump's return to the White House. In exchange for the release of political prisoners, Washington eased the sanctions imposed against Minsk. The authoritarian president of Belarus also gave "the green light" this week for Lithuanian trucks to exit Belarus.

"What is happening now resembles the 'push-pull' principle. In one place, some imaginary goodwill is supposedly demonstrated, although it's difficult to perceive this as a sign of goodwill when, one could say, our illegally stopped and detained Lithuanian trucks are returned. It turns out you still have to be grateful for getting back something that was illegally confiscated," Nausėda noted.

The President of Lithuania also disputed John Kohle's assertion that the problem of smuggling balloons has been resolved. According to Nausėda, this problem has not yet been resolved.

"Recent attacks using balloons, unfortunately, refute the assumptions that the esteemed Mr. Kohle spoke of, that the problem of balloons in general has been resolved. Unfortunately, it has not been resolved, and this is even demonstratively shown — immediately after the special envoy's departure from Belarus," he stated.

"All this leads us to believe that for now, we do not see goodwill from Belarus. I would say that opportunities for dialogue arise when the other side demonstrates a desire to develop — as much as possible — good neighborly relations. If for a certain period we see that the situation is stable and that the Belarusian regime truly does not create direct threats to Lithuania, then contacts and dialogue at a certain level are possible. This is exactly what I would wish for," said the head of the Lithuanian state.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė stated that Lithuania would consider the proposal by US envoy for Belarus, John Kohle, to hold a meeting with Belarus at the level of deputy ministers, but several conditions exist for this. At the same time, the head of government emphasized that the transit of Belarusian fertilizers was not discussed with the American envoy — there are no conditions for this, as European Union sanctions are currently in force.

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