Viktar Ivashkevich: Latvian MFA head comes to discuss business

During the meeting of the head of Latvian and Belarusian MFAs the issue of the release of the political prisoners will only be brought up formally.

This is how a coordinator of the European Belarus civic campaign Viktar Ivashkevich commented for the charter97.org web-site on the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkevichs to Belarus.

“The thing is that there is a tough competition between Lithuania and Latvia for attracting Belarusian exports. One stands up for the port in Klaipeda, the other calls for using Ventspils for shipments. And this will be the main topic of the discussion”, - the politician considers.

He highlighted that the issue of human rights in Belarus may be brought up at the meeting, but formally.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia will approach the topic of huan rights observation and the release of the political prisoners in Belarus exclusively for the appearance’s sake. This way or another, there will be a need to report to the European agencies, saying they brought up and discussed the topic, but not more than that.

I would note that the export through Latvia’s ports is one of the main sources of budget income for this country. The same situation is with Lithuania too. They compete with each other for good treatment of Lukashenka. It is no secret for anyone that the main article of Belarusian exports, which is shipped through the Baltic ports, is oil products, with which many scandals are connected. I will repeat it once again, the head of the Latvia’s MFA will be only interested in business cooperation. Like they say: nothing personal – just business”, - Viktar Ivashkevich concluded.

We would remind that a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Uladzimir Makei and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Latvian Republic Edgars Rinkevichs is scheduled in Vicebsk on 10 April 2013.

We would note that Latvia supported the European Union sanctions, which were introduced in response to repressions and human rights violations in our country. Their goal is to achieve the release of Belarusian political prisoners.