United States Special Envoy to Belarus John Coale land for Riga on September 17, where im meet Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and State Border Guard chief General Guntis Pujāts.
Di talks, according to officials, focus on security of Latvia eastern border, illegal migration, US-Latvia cooperation and release of political prisoners inside Belarus.
Latvia Ministry of Foreign Affairs talk say di two officials discuss ways to mitigate and prevent di Belarusian regime instrumentalisation of migration. Di ministry see am as threat to external borders of European Union and NATO, and also to regional security.
Braže highly commend Coale and United States involvement in securing release of political prisoners in Belarus. She talk say: “As long as di regime continues to repress im own citizens and threaten di security of neighbouring countries, di international community must continue to exert pressure on Minsk.”
Di Lukashenko regime release dozens of political prisoners late last year after United States drop some of im sanctions against Belarus, and Coale bin intimately involved in brokering di deal.
Braže brief di US Special Envoy on current situation for Latvian–Belarusian border. Since beginning of di year, more than 11,000 attempts to cross di Latvian–Belarusian border illegally don dey prevented.
“Di Belarusian regime continues to use people as tool to exert pressure on Latvia and di European Union. Dis no be just migration issue – na part of Russia war doctrine to weaken di unity of di allies, place additional burden on our State Border Guard, and threaten di security of di EU and NATO borders,” Baiba Braže talk.
For Lithuania side, President Gitanas Nausėda tell LRT on September 16 say: “We never put on rose-tinted glasses through which we go wan see a beautiful Lukashenka. We see am as im be.” Washington continue dialogue with Minsk and ease some sanctions, but di President of Lithuania talk say di country get clear position on wetin dey happen inside di neighbouring country.
Nausėda also talk say Lithuania support di sanctions wey European Union introduce on export of Belarusian fertilizers. “We get our position, and we don declare am. In some cases, e consistent with EU position. Di same ban on export of Belarusian fertilizers dey in effect for EU level. Dem don extend am for 12 months; we go revisit dis issue at beginning of next year when Lithuania go hold di presidency of di EU Council,” Nausėda tell LRT on September 16.
“We get clear understanding of wetin dey happen inside Belarus. We never put on rose-tinted glasses through which we go wan see a beautiful Lukashenka. We see am as im be. As for wetin dey happen for Belarusian airspace, e seem to me say sometimes we think say Belarus control im own airspace,” di President of Lithuania talk.
One of di topics wey US special envoy for Belarus John Coale discuss with officials for Lithuania and Latvia na di possible transit of Belarusian potash through di Baltic states. He tell The New York Times.
After talks inside Minsk, Coale meet on September 16 with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius. Publicly, di Lithuanian side speak mainly about release of political prisoners and regional security issues.
According to The New York Times, Coale travel by car from Minsk go Lithuania, where he suppose hold talks with Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius. Di discussions expected to focus in particular on di European Union continuing sanctions against Belarusian potash.
Coale tell di newspaper say negotiations over possible potash deal dey at advanced stage. He talk say di arrangement fit eventually allow Belarusian potash fertilizers to dey shipped go United States, which he talk say President Trump want. Coale also talk say he plan to coordinate di issue with leaders of Lithuania and Latvia.
On September 17, Coale meet for Riga with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and State Border Guard chief Guntis Pujāts. Officially, di sides talk say dem discuss security of Latvia eastern border, illegal migration, US-Latvia cooperation and release of political prisoners inside Belarus.
Kulbergs welcome release of 25 Belarusian political prisoners but stress say Latvia support stronger sanctions, as no significant improvements dey inside actions of di Belarusian regime. Di Latvian prime minister office talk say di regime continue im repression of society, support Russia aggression against Ukraine and use migration as tool of hybrid attack. Against dis backdrop, Latvia consider am necessary to maintain political and sanctions pressure and support expanding and strengthening EU sanctions.
Following Coale talks with Lukashenka, 25 political prisoners dey released and taken go Lithuania. In return, United States go lift sanctions on “Bellesbumprom” and “Lakokraska”. Coale also announce further releases and additional sanctions relief.
