«Official Brussels and capitals of the EU member states should not forget that tactics of intimidation does not work with Belarus. It is impossible to normalize relations with unilaterally imposed conditions, conditions of coercive pressure,» Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in connection with the Statement of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, made on February 28, 2012, reads.
«The nervous reaction of the European Union to the proposal of the Republic of Belarus for the ambassadors of the EU headquarters and Poland to hold a round of consultations in their capitals makes it evident – Brussels has chosen the way of escalating the tension. This is the way to a deadlock. Official Brussels, as well as the capitals of the EU member states should not forget that tactics of intimidation does not work with Belarus,» Belarusian MFA Press Secretary Andrey Savinykh states.
According to him, a constructive result can only be achieved by a respectful dialogue on mutually acceptable terms. «We hope our partners will understand this,» he points out.
On February 28, 2012 official Minsk recommended Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Belarus and Ambassador of Poland to Belarus to return to their capitals for consultations and «to convey to their leadership a firm position of the Belarusian side on inadmissibility of pressure and sanctions». The country also recalled its own ambassadors from Brussels and Warsaw. It was the reaction of Belarus that was caused by the EU Council decision to blacklist another 21 Belarusian officials.
Belsat
