Opinions & Interviews

Belarus’ proposals to settle issues with Poland, Lithuania left unanswered

MINSK, 16 July (BelTA) – Belarus is offering to regulate relations with Poland and Lithuania, yet the country has not seen any reciprocal steps, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a ceremony to honor graduates of higher military educational institutions and senior officers at the Palace of Independence on 16 July, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled the recent situation on the border with Ukraine over the military buildup. “We had to make certain promises to people and respond. Everyone involved in that effort is to be commended. I'm very grateful to them. But opening fire is an extreme method. Of course, we must know how to do it but it's the last resort. We must always find ways to negotiate. The military too. The situation was resolved by the military alone. We didn't involve diplomats. But we worked using the diplomatic language. We succeeded," the Belarusian leader emphasized.

“We want no war. We will go to war only when someone comes to our land with the sword. We will do our best to use only diplomatic means to settle disputes, primarily with our neighbors,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We offer settling our disputes with Poland and Lithuania in the same way. Yet, we have seen no reciprocity. Therefore, we have to keep our ears open and keep our powder dry in the northwestern and western directions,” the Belarusian leader added.

Earlier, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov told the media that Belarus had invited Poland to joint study the situation on the border. “Our head of state has recently offered the Polish side (and this position was brought to the Charge d'Affaires of Poland in Belarus) to send to Belarus any Polish delegation, any Polish experts, specialists, representatives of the country’s authorities to take a joint look at the situation on the border. We invite any other organizations, representatives of the EU countries, who are here, to come to the border, to take a look, to hold talks, discuss any issues, and outline plans,” Maksim Ryzhenkov said.

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