Belarusian Foreign Ministry offers excuses to Russia

Statements of the Russian Ambassador Alyaksandr Surikov about absence of support to Russia in its war in Georgia from Belarus received critical response in Minsk.

“Unfortunately, Ambassador Surikov hadn’t asked the Foreign Ministry of Belarus what actions have been undertaken in connection with the conflict in South Ossetia, and what Belarus plans to do in a collegiate partnership manner, as it is always done between the foreign ministries of our countries,” the Interfax-Zapad agency was told by a high-ranking representative of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

“If he asked, he would know that Belarus does not question unacceptability of attacking and use of weapons against the civilians of South Ossetia from the point of view of international law and morals; as well as legality of Russia’s actions aimed at defense of its citizens at the territory of South Ossetia, where citizens of the Russian Federation are a majority,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

As said by the FM representative, “these issues are self-evident for us and for any objective observers. It was absolutely clear that the outcome of the operation for restoration of peace would be quick and evident”.

He also said that “Belarus has supported desirability of urgent consideration of the situation in South Ossetia in the framework of the CIS, and noted that this discussion could take place in Minsk”. “The readiness of Belarus to review this situation in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in which responsibility zone the conflict takes place, is known as well,” noted the representative if the Belarusian FM. He noted that “Belarus advocates a really active role of the CSTO in crisis situations similar to this, and many times initiated steps in this direction in a close cooperation with Russia”.

The high-ranking representative of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has said that Minsk expects discussion “on the issue of the conflict and its consequences for the post-Soviet area during contacts of the head of our state with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as well”.