Lukashenko, Merkel discuss migration crisis on Belarus-EU border

<p> MINSK, Nov 16 - PrimePress. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the migration crisis on Belarus’ border with the European Union (EU) in a telephone conversation on 15 November. Lukashenko stated that on 16 November at a meeting to discuss the situation at the state border, the Belarusian president’s press-service informed. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The first issue was related to the refugees and the escalation of the situation at the state border. We have reached common ground that no one needs escalation - neither the European Union, nor Belarus. We cannot allow things to escalate into heated confrontation, no matter how much someone may want it. We have never wanted such escalation. I have just said that there are about 20,000 armed people on the other side of the border. We have not deployed a single platoon there, on the border. The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces did not give such an order. However, we are ready to counter any aggression from the other side. I gave such orders to the defence minister, other generals and law enforcement agencies,” Lukashenko said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The influx of refugees was the second issue that Lukashenko and Merkel discussed over the phone. “Of course, the European Union and Belarus have different views on the matter. They are very much concerned about the inflow of refugees to Belarus,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “They are absolutely unaware however that it is not us who have invited the refugees here. They are unaware that as of today we have sent back some 5,000 people (4,681 of them two days ago) in the autumn. We do not collect refugees all over the world and do not bring them to Belarus, as Poland claims. We allow entry to those who come to Belarus legally. Just like any other country does. Those who have violated the law are sent back home immediately. We have sent back some 5,000 such people. I have informed the German chancellor on it,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Among those sent back home were 3,042 nationals of Iraq, 696 of Iran, 487 of Syria, 19 of Afghanistan, 215 of Egypt, and 242 of Libya. “This is how many people we have sent back. The majority of refugees trying to get into Belarus illegally were from Iraq and Iran,” said the head of state. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The third issue we discussed (I insisted on it) was the refugee camp, the main problem of today. More than 2,100 persons, perhaps even more, have gathered near the Bruzgi border checkpoint. You know that they camped out there, some 800 metres away from the border checkpoint and had been staying there for a week. Yesterday they left that place and approached the Bruzgi border checkpoint. This is the biggest problem today. The problem, as I told Merkel, is that if we fail to save these people, it will be on us, on Belarus and, more so, on the European Union that did not let these refugees in. Something has to be done about these people immediately,” Lukashenko said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “I have made a proposal to resolve the situation. I will not specify it now. We agreed with Merkel that we will not talk about it right now. She has asked for some pause to discuss this proposal with the EU members,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Another issue discussed with Angela Merkel was humanitarian aid for the refugees. “Germany, Merkel and the entire European Union have been misled by the Poles who claimed that the refugees do not receive humanitarian aid, and that Belarus allegedly blocks the delivery of humanitarian aid to these refugees. Poland claimed it wanted to help but Belarus does not let it. To which I remarked: ‘I cannot imagine what problems Poland could possibly have with the delivery of humanitarian aid?’ You have all seen what is going on there. You are welcome, bring it to the border, pass it through the barbed wire you put up there. If you want to remove the barbed wire, we do not mind. Remove it and come right up to the refugees. There are no obstacles here and there can be none,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> He added that the parties also discussed the allegations that Belarus did not let the UNHCR representatives visit refugees. “I personally saw the TV footage showing how they visited the place and talked to the migrants. The media informed the people. I advised the chancellor to watch news on television or at least on the internet. We have showed everything. Therefore, all we can see is lies and anti-Belarusian hysteria which is fuelled by, first of all by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and unfortunately, Ukraine (as far as I could get it during our 50-minute conversation with the German chancellor),” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko and Merkel agreed to keep in touch until the problem is resolved. “We will talk it over again in the near future. I have already said that I would like to hear a response to my proposal I made to Merkel to resolve this conflict. We also agreed that our Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makey and [High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep] Borrell will stay in contact to discuss these issues,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko informed that he also planned to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Please report whether we need some kind of military-technical or defence assistance (after all, this is our common border, the border of the Union State). I will talk with the Russian president and ask him to provide, if necessary, appropriate assistance, without dragging them into this refugee crisis. Because you see that the scoundrels of the collective West put all the responsibility on Russia that has nothing to do with this yet,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In his words, the most important thing is to prevent attempts to smuggle weapons into this [refugee] camp. “You understand that some forces are very interested in shootout. One shot and a hot confrontation is inevitable. We have been taking enormous efforts to prevent this,” Lukashenko said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As for some refugees making their way from the Belarusian territory into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, Lukashenko informed that Belarus has information from sources, both official and unofficial, of the neighbouring countries: “Every day more than 600 people break through from Belarus into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. We recognize this and openly say that according to their sources these are 660-700 people a day, except for people from this camp.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko informed that the United Arab Emirates is ready to play a role in resolving the situation with the refugees on Belarus’ border with the European Union member states. Belarus and the UAE keep in touch and there is an understanding that the UAE is ready to lend a helping hand in resolving the refugee crisis on the border, said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In July 2021, President Lukashenko stated that, due to sanctions imposed by Western countries, he no longer intended to restrain illegal migration to the European Union. This was followed by attempts to illegally cross the border with Lithuania, Poland and Latvia by migrants from the Middle East, with total inactivity of the Belarusian border service. By 1 November, the Polish border guards alone registered 23 thousand such attempts. On 15 November at a session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), foreign ministers of member states of the European Union (EU) reached a political agreement on applying the 5th parcel of sanctions against Belarus. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics informed that the fifth package of sanctions would target Belarusian officials, companies, including aviation companies, which are involved in migrant trafficking to Belarus. In his words, the sixth package of sanctions, which can be triggered in case of further escalation of the migration crisis, was also discussed. The US also intends to introduce new sanctions against Belarus in coordination with the EU and other allies, US Department of State spokesman Ned Price informed on 15 November. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Merkel discussed the migration issue on 10 and 11 November by phone with Putin, who said, among other things, that de-escalation of the migration crisis is only possible through direct talks between the EU and the Belarusian authorities. End </p>

2021-11-17

Primepress