Nausėda: If there are no balloons, no illegal migrants in the coming weeks, we might start a dialogue with Belarus

Photo: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In his interview with TV3 News on Wednesday, the head of the Lithuanian state responded to a question about negotiations regarding the possibility of dialogue between Lithuania and Minsk, writes Delfi.lt.

"And with a record flow of illegal migrants at our border in recent days, or constant attacks using balloons, should we really be talking now and asking the neighboring regime for indulgence for a meeting?" — Nausėda stated.

This is how he commented on the call for Lithuania to hold a bilateral political meeting with Belarus and resume fertilizer transit, voiced in an LRT interview by US Special Representative for Belarus, John Koole.

As Gitanas Nausėda stated, Lithuania must set a condition for Belarus for a possible dialogue. According to the president, if the Minsk regime shows good will, for example, by stopping the flows of weather balloons with contraband into Lithuania and illegal migrants attempting to cross the border, then the issue of political negotiations between the states could be considered.

"If, in the coming weeks, within four weeks, there are no balloons, no illegal migrants, all trucks successfully return to Lithuania, and the regime truly demonstrates efforts to normalize relations, at least without creating tension for its neighbor, we will consider this a sign of good will and, perhaps, begin such a dialogue. But for this, there must be very clear conditions, and those that exist at the moment are very far from what could be imagined for starting a dialogue," Nausėda said.

Answering a question about the possibility of resuming the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania, the president reminded that restrictions on fertilizer transport are related to European Union sanctions.

Therefore, according to G. Nausėda, Lithuania must be united with the EU on this issue and not make decisions independently.

Indeed, as G. Nausėda noted, if the Belarusian regime shows a desire for change and rapprochement with the West, discussions could be initiated regarding the necessity of extending the sanctions imposed against Minsk. "These twelve months (the duration of the sanctions) will end sooner or later, and during this time, other positive shifts may occur. The Minsk regime has infinitely many opportunities to show that they truly want to draw closer to the West, that they want to stop being Russia's puppet in the war with Ukraine — I understand that today such an opinion seems unrealistic, but they have the opportunity to demonstrate it — and then we, without a doubt, will be among those who say, not ignoring this fact, even speaking at European Union forums: 'Look, the situation in Belarus is changing, and we can adjust our policy accordingly.' But today, I see no such prerequisites," Nausėda commented.

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