Lithuania is not considering easing sanctions against Belarus - FM

VILNIUS - Lithuania's government is not looking into easing the existing against Belarus, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says as Biriu Kroviniu Terminalas (BKT), a Klaipeda-based bulk cargo terminal owned by Igor Udovickij, proposes withdrawing its lawsuit filed to the EU court if the government allows Belarusian fertilizer shipments via Lithuania to resume.

On the contrary, Budrys says, the government is considering ways to further extend the sanctions against Belarus.

"I can stress and reiterate once again that there are no processes currently underway to review the sanction policy and specific measures towards Belarus. We are rather looking at expanding those sanctions," Budrys told reporters on Wednesday, adding that he also spoke about it at a closed session of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

"The question (at the committee - BNS) was whether there are any processes. My answer is short: no, there are not. I reassured members of the Seimas of it once again. So I (...) want to reassure you once again and urge you not to fall for those rumors they are trying to push on you that there's some kind of ongoing political process," the foreign minister explained.

He confirmed that the ministry had received letters regarding the resumption of transit of Belarusian fertilizers, but did not say whose letters they were.

"We have various letters. Yes, of course, I remember them, and I replied to more than one. It is happening and (...) there have been some correspondence, yes", Budrys added.

"My interest is to keep it as an absolutely pure and legally and clearly stated matter. Nd this is what we are ding legally. If someone wants to bring something extra in, then I can say one thing - it is causing harm to Lithuania in the first place," the minister explained to journalists, stressing that Belaruskali had initiated arbitration proceedings against Lithuania "where what is said publicly will be assessed."

BNS reported earlier this month that BKT had proposed a settlement with the government that would allow Belarusian fertilizer shipments via Lithuania to resume.

In his letter to Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and the government in June, BKT CEO Ruslan Malinin offered to withdraw the company's lawsuit from the EU General Court in exchange for permission to resume Belaruskali fertilizer transit via Lithuania and BKT's terminal.

Prime Minister Paluckas also said earlier that Lithuania is not yet discussing the resumption of Belaruskali transit through Lithuania.

However, in early July, the public broadcaster LRT reported that after Belarus released several political prisoners at the end of June, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, American diplomats asked Lithuania if it would be willing to ease its sanctions on the Minsk regime, including on fertilizer trade.

On Wednesday, Budrys neither confirmed nor denied the information about such conversations.