„This is essentially a problem created by Lukashenko's regime. Those trucks have been taken hostage, and now they are offering to negotiate, which is why I don't like the term 'negotiate' either. Tomorrow, there will most likely be technical contacts with the Belarusian side. We have our own view, we will present our view and see how they react, and if everything really looks sufficiently goodwill, I repeat, no one is specifically interested in continuing the closure of border crossing points,“ Matulionis told LRT radio.
As announced, while Lithuania is talking about technical-level negotiations, Minsk is seeking to move them to a higher level—Belarus's authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, wants foreign ministers to negotiate.
For his part, Matulionis says he sees no reason to hold negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) level, as the results of the technical meeting must first be awaited.
„Why should we move to the foreign affairs level? We have a specific problem to solve, and then everything will fall into place. Now they are trying to complicate things with all sorts of new problems, as if we are somehow responsible, showing that it is unclear why Lithuania closed the border crossing points – the other side knows very well why they were closed. Everything could have been resolved within a few days, but that was not done,“ said the presidential adviser.
„On the other side, in the East, it often happens that a problem is created and then a solution is proposed. This is somewhat reminiscent of certain activities, using certain levers to seek negotiations, but as of today, I see no reason to enter into any further negotiations. Yes, they will take place tomorrow, let's see how things look, and then our government will make the most sensible decision,“ he explained.
NATO asked to send a group of experts
Meanwhile, to resolve the issue of weather balloons, the advisor assures that Lithuania has asked NATO to send a group of experts to assess the situation.
„NATO allies understand perfectly well that this is a type of hybrid attack, and we have requested a group of experts to be sent to assess the situation in detail and propose additional measures to help us deal with these meteorological contraband (balloons – ELTA),“ said Matulionis.
„The balloons are difficult to detect; they do not emit heat or radio waves. Radar data is the only effective means of detecting them,“ he emphasised.
According to Matulionis, this group should arrive soon.
„Our NATO mission is working on this. I don't know when they will be sent, but they should be sent in the near future to make an external assessment of the overall situation and what we need, what the fundamental problems are in this area,“ the advisor assured.
He also emphasised that Lithuania is not interested in keeping its border control points with Belarus closed.
„This is a process controlled by the other side. If there is goodwill on the part of Belarus, I really want to guarantee that no one in Lithuania is interested in keeping the border crossing points closed,“ said Matulionis.
ELTA recalls that in October, weather balloons carrying contraband from Belarus were spotted several times, disrupting airport operations. In view of the situation, the government decided to close the last border control points with Belarus at Medininkai and Šalčininkai for one month, until midnight on November 30.
Traffic through the Šalčininkai checkpoint has been completely suspended, while the Medininkai checkpoint is operating with certain restrictions.
As previously announced, at the end of October, Lukashenko signed a decree banning trucks and tractors registered in certain EU countries, including Lithuania and Poland, from travelling on Belarusian territory.
Representatives of Lithuanian carriers have hinted that if the border with Belarus remains closed and the government fails to take concrete steps, they will consider protest actions both in Lithuania and in Brussels. According to them, the Lithuanian government did not issue a clear warning about the border closure with Belarus.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, on the other hand, believes that the government sent clear enough signals that the border with Belarus could be closed, and that trucking companies had the opportunity to assess the risks. In her opinion, the current emotional reaction of carriers to the situation is not fair.
Meanwhile, Poland will open two border control points with Belarus on Monday. This step aims to resume the flow of goods that have been blocked.