“I do not see any reason to fight for the lifting of sanctions against Belarus in the European Council or other formats,” said the President of Lithuania.
Павялічыць
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The President of Lithuania stated that he had never received signals that the presence of American troops in the country could be dependent on improved relations with Belarus, writes LRT.
“I have never, anywhere, heard such a condition: either you are friends with Belarusians, or you will not have American soldiers here. (…) No one would even dare to say such a thing to Lithuania,” the head of state stated on Thursday during the “Topic of the Day” program on LRT television.
Thus, the president commented on the possible visit of US Special Envoy for Belarus, John Caule, and claims that Vilnius needs to restore relations with Minsk and consider lifting sanctions on fertilizer transit.
In March, Caule urged Vilnius to hold a meeting with the Belarusian side at the deputy ministerial level. Earlier, he visited Belarus, where he met with Alexander Lukashenka. After this visit, Minsk released about 250 political prisoners, and Washington partially lifted sanctions.
“Everything that Mr. Caule and the US administration do in the field of human rights cannot but be welcomed, as it is the release of people. People who are enduring immense—both moral and physical—suffering in Lukashenka’s prisons. Their release is good news, whether they are citizens of Lithuania, Poland, or Belarusian freedom fighters themselves. This is a positive process that we welcome and will continue to welcome,” Nausėda said.
However, the president emphasized that Minsk’s demonstrated goodwill on the issue of political prisoners does not change Lithuania’s position regarding sanctions.
“As for the lifting of sanctions, there is no need to be resolute or irresolute here. There is a completely obvious legal reality: no one would be able to lift these sanctions even with great desire, because they have been extended for the next 12 months, and it will be no other way,” Nausėda emphasized.
“I do not see any reason to fight for the lifting of sanctions against Belarus in the European Council or other formats. Everything remains in force, except for the humanitarian aspect and, it must be admitted, Lukashenka’s peculiar flirtation with the US. I see no other positive shifts — neither on the issue of (smuggled air) balloons, nor on the issue of illegal migration, nor on the issue of Belarus’s participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” added the head of the Lithuanian state.
The president noted that in case of a meeting with Caule, he intends to “maximally realistically” explain that the neighboring state continues to intensify the security situation in the region.