“We apologize, but we cannot look at it differently from unfriendly actions that damage the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, and we cannot leave it without retaliation,” the minister said in a statement.
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“These are not the first sanctions in our history. And our history will not end there. We will survive them as before. We know the results. Together we will definitely lose time. We will lose the rhythm that our countries and societies need, especially in today’s world.” in a fast – paced world, “he added.
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The Minister emphasized that he still believed in the possibility and perspective of normal, good neighborly, civilized interstate relations “between the EU and Belarus.
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Belarus has a difficult situation that it can get through with the help of the EU, but “without attempts to coercion through political, financial or other obvious levers,” McKay said.
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EU member states do not recognize the results of the presidential election in Belarus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday after a video summit of EU leaders.
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The Chancellor also condemned the “brutal violence” against protesters in Belarus.
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European Council President Charles Michel announced after the summit that the EU would soon impose sanctions on a “significant number” of people behind election fraud and violent repression of protesters.
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Merkel also told reporters that President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko did not answer her phone call. “Lukashenko rejected the phone call, which I regret. He can only be a mediator if you are in contact with all parties,” Merkel said.
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For his part, Urzula von der Leiena, President of the European Commission (EC), said that the EU was “ready to support a peaceful, democratic transfer of power in Belarus”.
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According to the official results of the presidential election in Belarus on August 9, the current head of state Alexander Lukashenko won 80.1% of the vote, while opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovska won 10.1%, but the opposition believes the election results are fake and Tikhanovska has won the election.
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Protests against electoral fraud and President Lukashenko, who have often escalated into protests by security forces, have continued in the capital, Minsk, since 9 August. During the protests, several thousand people were detained and several hundred were injured. Workers in many companies have gone on strike.
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