Lithuanian Ambassador: “Dialogue with Belarus’ authorities is hardly taking place”
- 13.02.2008, 13:37
Edminas Bagdonas, Lithuanian Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus, believes that the dialogue between Minsk and Brussels on issues of normalization of relations remains at a low level still. “This direct dialogue doesn’t take place in fact. If there will be no desire from the both sides this dialogue won’t take place, and there will be only mutual accusations,” stated the Lithuanian Ambassador to journalists on Wednesday in Minsk.
Expressing his personal opinion, E. Bagdonas stated that the dialogue between Belarus and the EU is “the only way out in the development of relations. The dialogue is necessary, we should look for understanding,” Interfax informs.
“When we wanted a dialogue on Lithuania’s joining the EU, we were “frequent visitors” in Brussels; when one door was closed for us, we entered another door,” the Ambassador said.
Speaking about the necessity to develop the dialogue between Belarus and the EU, Lithuanian Ambassador said that in this situation the matter doesn’t concern visas only (the cost of visas), but it’s a matter of transport, energy, all the range of people’s relations”.
As said by him, “visa issue is rather sensitive”. However, he underlined that in due time everything necessary was done in order that “no surprises would arise. [Belarusian citizens have been notified in advance] that a visa for Belarusian citizens after Lithuania’s entering the Schengen zone would cost 60 Euro”. “In order to reduce this cost, a dialogue with Brussels is needed, but I think this dialogue has failed,” E. Bagdonas said.
Lithuanian Ambassador urged not to dramatize the situation after entering his country Schengen treaty. “There is a direct bilateral agreement, according to which some categories of Belarusian citizens can get cheaper or free visas,” Ambassador said. In particular, he said that about 3,000 Schengen visas have been issued by Lithuanian Embassy in January this year. About 30% of these visas were issued for free.
He added: “I cannot say that Belarus has reduced the cost of its visas for Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian citizens”. “One-entry visa really costs 25 Euro, but urgent, multiple visas for Lithuanian citizens cost much more,” E. Bagdonas said.
The Lithuanian Ambassador stated that in the near future consular services of Lithuania and Belarus are to discuss questions of streamlined travel of citizens living in frontier zone. “It would affect about 200,000 citizens, living in 50-kilometer frontier zone,” E. Bagdonas said.
E. Bagdonas has also stated that the Lithuanian side does not interfere with Belarusian citizens looking for job in Lithuania, with those who want to receive a permanent resident card. “We shouldn’t politicize the issue, saying that people are fleeing from Belarus, but about 100 citizens a month address us with a request to get permission to stay in Lithuanian. Belarusian citizens buy property – houses and apartments – in Lithuania,” the diplomat said.