Opinions & Interviews

Makei addresses EU foreign ministers

Vladimir Makei. An archive photo

MINSK, 21 August (BelTA) – Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei has addressed foreign ministers of the EU member states in view of their numerous statements on Belarus. The text of the address was posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BelTA reports.

“You know me well, you know Belarus and Belarusians. It is not the 18th century now, not 2010 and not even 2015. The Republic of Belarus is a reality. Reality for Europe, reality for the European Union, reality for each of your countries. Therefore, I urge you to live with it and stay in touch with this reality,” Vladimir Makei said.

He admitted that Belarus and various EU nations do not share views on certain things. “However, as soon as our country was put to the first serious test, you started calling for sanctions again right away. This way you have doubled down on those who do not believe in our sovereign ability to build equal and mutually beneficial relations with your states,” the minister noted.

In his words, Belarus already experienced sanctions before and did not cease to exist. “We will pull through, just like before. You know the results of these sanctions. We all will just lose time. We will also momentum our countries and societies need in this fast-changing world,” Vladimir Makei said.

He noted that Belarus is going through a difficult period now. “Which of your countries has not gone through painful stages of national maturation? Let us do it, too. It is better to do it with your help, but without attempts to coerce and use political, financial and other obvious instruments. I want to apologize, but we will view it as nothing else but malevolent actions causing damage to the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus and we will not be able not to respond to it. However, I still believe in a possibility and good prospects of normal, good neighborly, civilized interstate relations between our countries. This will benefit everyone: Belarus, Europe and entire Eurasia. I ask you to think about it without emotions,” the minister underlined.

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