Nauseda says Belarus dialogue only possible if Minsk shows goodwill

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday that dialogue with Belarus is only possible if Minsk shows a genuine willingness for neighbourly relations, adding that no such signals are currently visible.

"So far, we see no goodwill from the Belarusian side. I would say that opportunities for dialogue arise when the other side demonstrates a desire to foster neighborly relations as much as possible," Nauseda said.

"If we see a stable situation over a certain period and that the Belarusian regime poses no direct threats to Lithuania, then contacts and dialogue at a certain level are possible," he added.

The remarks follow an interview with public broadcaster LRT by US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale, who urged Lithuania to restore the transit of Belarusian fertilisers and hold a high-level meeting with Minsk for that purpose.

Nauseda emphasised that the issue of fertiliser sanctions is decided at the European Union level. The European Union extended sanctions against Belarus, including those on fertilisers, for another year on February 26.

"These were introduced much earlier and are linked not so much to current hybrid attacks, but to human rights violations, the illegal 2020 presidential elections, and, undoubtedly, the de facto participation of Belarus in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," he said.

The president added that Belarus’s decision to release detained Lithuanian trucks could hardly be seen as a sign of goodwill, as they were initially detained illegally by Minsk.

"It is as if we should be thankful for the return of an illegally seized item," Nauseda said.

Belarus has already released some of the detained trucks. The State Border Guard Service said on Friday that 153 trucks had returned to Lithuania via the Medininkai and Salcininkai checkpoints, though Minsk is still demanding parking fees from carriers.

Meanwhile, balloons carrying contraband continue to enter Lithuanian airspace, albeit less frequently.

"Unfortunately, the balloon problem has not been solved. I would say it is being demonstrated in a provocative manner just after the special envoy left Belarusian territory," Nauseda said.

"Under such a regime, one would have to be very bold to carry out this kind of activity if the authorities were categorically opposed to it. If it continues regardless, it means there are enough signals that the authorities not only do not object but even encourage it in some way," he added.

Airspace over Vilnius Airport was restricted twice on Thursday night due to contraband balloons launched from Belarus.

Last week, Coale visited Lithuania to meet Nauseda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene to discuss what Lithuanian officials describe as hybrid attacks. Nauseda said at the time he had warned the US envoy to view the regime’s rhetoric with caution.

The following day, Coale travelled to Belarus to meet President Alexander Lukashenko. After the visit, Minsk released 250 political prisoners and Washington lifted some sanctions.