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Former Head of the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania: Lifting Sanctions on Belarus Fails to Prove Its Value

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Former Head of the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania: Lifting Sanctions on Belarus Fails to Prove Its Value
Audronius Ažubalis

Lifting sanctions on the Belarusian government has failed to prove its value, Europeans turned to be naive, former head of the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania states.

According to him, it is useless to mention the independence of Lukashenka's regime; Russia tries to tie Belarus by all possible means, by the Astravets NPP as well.

In the interview with charter97.org the deputy of Sejm Audronius Ažubalis notes that the Kremlin is totally interested in its military growth in Belarus, thus NATO needs to tighten the security system in the region.

- What do you think about the European policy towards Belarus now? Is some independence of Belarus possible now?

- I think the Belarus' sovereignty is absolutely limited. Lifting sanctions has failed to prove its value, for instance, because the government states it is not going to comply with recommendations aimed at these elections. I mean amendments to the Electoral Code. As I know, it was one of conditions for sanctions to be lifted. And now naive Europeans (Lithuania joined them) have received a blow on the head.

Moreover, Russia bounds Belarus to itself by the nuclear power plant (its existence jeopardizes Lithuania). First of all, Belarus faces a huge debt. Lithuania, I guess, will follow its intention not to buy energy of its NPP and will not allow using its infrastructure. It means that Belarus will have to develop it on its own to be able to export energy to Russia.

Anyway, this is a great failure of Belarus. Perhaps, the government of Belarus understands it, but it may be a slave to the Kremlin's will.

- The Kremlin now is extremely interested in its military growth in Belarus.

- I am sure about it.

- What should be the reaction of Lithuania?

- It must be ready for every provocations and defence activities, what is being implemented.

Belarusian Armed Forces are some kind of extention of Russian ones. Belarusian military men constantly participate in exercises with of aggressive nature; Russian military planes are deployed in Belarus, they do not need bases.

Russian Federal Security Service makes itself at home in Belarus and takes part in Western border surveillance. Air space is open for Russian planes. What integration do you mean? Perhaps, only the way to preserve the name "Belarus".

- The USA have recently proved more activity towards relations with Belarus. What do you think about it?

- I think it's good, but naive. As naive as thoughts of some Western policy makers that Lukashenka may turn to be another Broz Tito. This attempt is a naive one.

- What do you think about the situation with security in the region in general? Is the region ready enough for possible aggression?

- I would not say so. The situation in the NATO countries should be sized up in general, not in separate regions. There is the NATO's space, its defense is planned and this is all.

- Do Europeans realize a possible threat from the East?

- I guess they do really realize it now, not like before the conflict in Ukraine. Even policy makers, I mean the USA, realize it more. They see that the tightening of security in Eastern and Western Europe is needed. And this is a good sign.

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