Pabriks refuses to meet Belarus ambassador

Aug 02, 2006
By TBT staff

RIGA – In response to the diplomatic incident in Minsk, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks has said he would not meet with Belarus’ incoming ambassador, Aleksander Gerasimenko, on Aug. 9.
Pabriks’ spokeswoman, Inga Saleniece, said the minister would agree to a meeting only after Belarus’ Foreign Ministry provided an explanation as to why law enforcement officials there unlawfully entered a Latvian diplomat’s apartment last week.
Minsk responded by Pabriks’ statement by saying a refusal to meet the ambassador would not prevent the latter from carrying out his duties in Riga, since Gerasimenko has already handed his credentials to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

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