Belarusian FM sees Poland's opening of border checkpoints as important step in normalizing bilateral relations
MINSK. Nov 17 (Interfax) - By its decision to open additional checkpoints on the border with Belarus, Poland demonstrated its willingness to normalize relations and thus set an example for Lithuania, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
"It's good that they demonstrated this consistency in their ideas. It's very important when politicians heed the opinion of their people and do as promised," Ryzhenkov told the First News state-run television channel on Monday.
"The opening of border crossings is key to restoring normal relations between the countries," he said.
"Relations between ordinary people, between business representatives always take precedence, and politicians follow them. Therefore, such an atmosphere, such a backdrop is positive enough," Ryzhenkov said.
"Poland showed Lithuania normal, tough pragmatism," he said.
Poland reopened the Kuznica Bialystok (Belarus' Bruzgi) and Bobrowniki (Berestovitsa) border checkpoints, which suspended operations in November 2021 and February 2023, respectively, in the small hours of November 17. The Polish interior minister has ordered that Kuznica Bialystok clear passengers only with the exception of buses, while Bobrowniki clear cars and buses, as well as trucks from member states of the European Union and the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland.
Until November 17, only the Terespol-Brest passenger checkpoint and the Kukuryki-Kozlovichi motor checkpoint were functioning on the Polish-Belarusian border.
On October 29, the Lithuanian government decided in late October that the border with Belarus would stay closed until November 30 due to numerous contraband incidents with an option of further extending the period.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said for his part, when commenting on the situation, that Belarus is ready to reopen the border with Lithuania "in a matter of hours". The border was closed at Lithuania's initiative, and "the ball is in its court," Lukashenko said.
