Lukashenko on closuring Belarus’ borders for entrants: A temporary measure, no politics involved

<p> MINSK, Nov 5 - PrimePress. The move to close Belarus’ border for entrants has been a measure and there no political strings attached, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said at the Nov 5 meeting on measures taken to counter the spread of viral infections. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, Belarus temporarily restricts entry for foreign citizens and stateless persons since November 1, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as per government resolution No.624 of October 30, 2020 posted on the National Legal Internet Portal on October 31, 2020. This restriction does not apply to foreign nationals that hold diplomatic or business passports; heads and members of official delegations; foreigners engaged in the provision of international gratuitous aid to Belarus; drivers engaged in international road and international mail transportation; crews of inland water transport vessels, train crews, and locomotive crews of international railway service. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The restriction does not apply to spouses, parents or children of Belarusian citizens; foreigners who have the right to permanent or temporary residence in Belarus; foreigners who have work permits or proof of employment documents in Belarus; foreigners who travel to Belarus in the event of serious illness, or death of a close relative; foreign nationals that transport stem cells, organs for transplantation. The restriction does not apply to citizens of the Russian Federation transiting through Belarus to Russia, and foreigners transiting through Belarus in accordance with the Belarus-Ukraine interstate government agreement on simplified crossing of the Slavutich-Chernobyl nuclear power plant border section, which goes through the territory of Belarus, to workers, vehicles and cargoes of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and enterprises that work in the exclusion zone, and foreign specialists involved in the international Chernobyl NPP projects. This restriction does not apply to those arriving in Belarus through the Minsk National Airport. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko said: “Before effective and reliable coronavirus drugs could be available, the virus had already mutated and adapted to the methods used to fight it. The so-called new Spanish flu is taking over Western Europe. This is why we could not leave our borders open for entrants. All the more so because Belarus has not gone through the peak. There is no politics here. The decision is serious, it is restrictive in nature. And it is a temporary solution.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> He also reminded that a few days ago Poland announced an intention to invite doctors from abroad, including Belarus, to fight the coronavirus. “I would like to warn you: we do not have any extra doctors. We need to provide medical treatment for our own people. But following our principle, we will not force anyone to stay. However, one has to understand: if you leave, you will not come back," said Lukashenko. In his words, this is not a threat, but an order for the government: "Therefore, everybody should be put into their place, but nobody should be forced to stay, if they want to earn big bucks or their eyes turn dollar-green.” End </p>

2020-11-06

Primepress