Belarus’ FM on whether it is necessary to maintain diplomatic relations with unfriendly states

Answering a question from journalists in New York, Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov expressed his position on whether it is necessary to maintain diplomatic relations with countries that are trying to actively interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus – such as, for example, the United States, Poland and Lithuania, BelTA reports

"In fact, it is important to maintain diplomatic relations, to keep a place for dialogue and conversation at all times and in any situation," the Foreign Minister is convinced.

Mr. Ryzhenkov stated that the actions of Belarus’ opponents and close neighbours often harm these parties themselves – as evidenced by the example of Lithuania. “Believe me, I do not know what influences the agenda formation there – but to completely curtail, doing this so harshly and with such a fury, all co-operation with Belarus and Russia, with which Lithuania has a long border and many interests, including interpersonal contacts, the issues of trade and politics… Well, you may develop as you wish, but there are people, there are some kind of family relationships and humanitarian aspects as well. This opportunity has been so much decreased that it seems simply amazing,” the diplomat said.

The Foreign Minister stressed the futility of attempts to fight the peoples of Belarus and Russia against the background of depopulation in Lithuania and the current economic difficulties caused by the Baltic country’s own short-sighted and dependent foreign policy.

"The most interesting thing happened when they recognised Taiwan and broke off all relations with China, thus virtually shooting themselves in the head. At present, even the most narrow-minded politicians understand that this cannot be done. After all, if you want to be respected or to have at least some kind of positioning, you must have contacts with the most powerful countries of the current development of the planet. If you do not understand this, then you are definitely a puppet in someone else's hands, you definitely do not have your own line of conduct and possibilities,” Mr. Ryzhenkov stressed.

Belarus’ Foreign Minister recalled that he had recently prepared an open letter to the people of Lithuania in order to draw attention to the actions of the country's politicians and the losses caused by the lack of normal relations with Belarus. According to the most conservative estimates, such losses amount to about $1 billion per year.

"They are now discussing where to get money for pension allowances, to raise salaries for their state employees, and so on – but just look at the above-mentioned losses. Moreover, [these losses are much more] if to take the relations with Russian into account, if to recall that China has closed a lot of windows of opportunity in Lithuania. If all these [losses] are calculated, then we can see how Lithuania would have been developing today," Mr. Ryzhenkov noted.

The Foreign Minister recalled that, not so long ago, thousands of Belarusian citizens went to Lithuania for tourism and shopping, spending considerable sums of money there. The county does not have such a source any more.

In summary, Mr. Ryzhenkov once again spoke in favour of maintaining diplomatic contacts, ‘because while diplomats are talking, the guns are silent’.