VILNIUS - Mindaugas Sinkevicius, chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, urged the president and government to agree on future relations with Belarus and said dialogue with Minsk should not be ruled out.
"The Constitution states that the most important foreign policy issues are decided by the President of the Republic of Lithuania together with the Government. (...) I would like to see the head of state and the government agree on what that vision is," the Social Democrat leader said.
According to Sinkevicius, certain changes have been observed following the visit of US Special Envoy John Coale to Minsk in March, including the release of political prisoners and the lifting of some sanctions.
"Is there a need to improve relations with Belarus? I am a proponent of the idea that foreign policy is inseparable from diplomacy and dialogue," Sinkevicius said.
He suggested that dialogue at deputy-ministerial level could be possible, particularly if the initiative originated from the US.
"I would certainly not suggest inviting them here or travelling to Minsk, but if Washington were to extend an invitation, I think it should be considered," Sinkevicius said.
The US envoy previously urged Vilnius to hold a deputy ministerial meeting with Minsk regarding fertilizer transit. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has said technical dialogue could be possible if Belarus takes concrete steps on border and transit issues.
Lithuanian leaders also raised Belarus's hybrid attacks with the US representative and urged caution regarding statements from Minsk.
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