Lithuania preparing to close another 2 out of 4 checkpoints at border with Belarus
VILNIUS. Feb 7 (Interfax/BNS) - Lithuania is considering the closure of another two checkpoints at the border with Belarus, but the complete closure of the border is not on the table for now, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.
"I can imagine a situation when that [the complete closure of the border from the eastern side - BNS] might happen, but I very much hope we will never face that," Landsbergis told reporters on Wednesday in response to a question about whether the border with Belarus may be fully closed.
For now, there are plans to close the Lavoriskes and Raigardas checkpoints. Lithuania has informed Poland about its plans.
"We continue to inform our partners about possible decisions before they take effect, while they are still being discussed, because they change [traffic] flows in one country or another. We have conveyed our motivation and decisions, their possible consequences, and what we will do next," Landsbergis said.
On February 6, the National Security Commission proposed stopping the movement of goods, vehicles and passengers through the Lavoriskes and Raigardas checkpoints. The government will make the final decision.
If this happens, there will be two operational checkpoints left at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, namely Medininkai and Salcininkai. Lithuania closed two of the six checkpoints at the Belarusian border, Sumskas and Tverecius, in August 2023.
Also on February 6, the National Security Commission proposed a gradual decline in the number of permits issued to Belarusian and Lithuanian carriers which provide regular transborder passenger travel by bus, and limited boarding and disembarkation of passengers at the Kyana (Kybartai) railroad checkpoint.
In turn, Poland closed all but one of the checkpoints at the border with Belarus.
In August 2023, ministers of Poland and Baltic states agreed on plan envisaging in which case the borders with Belarus could be completely closed.