English

Foreign minister says that he does not expect EU to freeze relations with Minsk

Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynaw said that he hoped that the European Union’s decision regarding its travel ban against Alyaksandr Lukashenka and other Belarusian officials would be in line with its interest in the development of relations with Minsk, as quoted by BelaPAN.

“I will not make wild guesses about a decision that will be taken, the minister told reporters in Minsk on Monday when asked to comment on the report that the bloc is preparing to prolong the suspension of the travel ban on Belarusian officials instead of lifting the sanctions entirely.

“The EU has 27 members and all of them have their own opinion,” Mr. Martynaw said. “It is premature to speculate about which opinion will prevail.”

Minsk’s stance on any sanctions is no secret to anybody, he said.

“But I don’t expect the EU to choose to freeze the relations,” Mr. Martynaw noted. “This is highly improbable, as there is a mutual interest in their development. There are just certain differences that make swift movements on the path impossible.”

At the news conference, Mr. Martynaw also commented on Belarus’ possible participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

Belarus is negotiating with the UN about the possibility of concluding supply contracts to support its peacekeeping forces, the minister said, noting that representatives of the UN Secretariat would arrive in Minsk in October to hold a "seminar" for Belarusian exporters.

“Belarusian exporters have never participated in UN supply contracts directly,” Mr. Martynaw said. “We expect the seminar to provide an impetus for Belarus’ participation in the activity.”

The minister also confirmed the authorities’ plans to assign several contract servicemen to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

“Our military surgeon already works there,” the minister said. “We are also ready to send experts specializing in cooperation between civilians and military officials, one staff officer and one more medical professional,” he said.

Mr. Martynaw said that it was not yet clear when Belarusian peacekeepers would leave for Lebanon, as the UN peacekeeping operation in the Western Asian country was currently under review.