Lukashenko’s actions are absolutely unacceptable / Article

The actions of the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, in connection with the migrant crisis on the borders of Belarus and Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are absolutely unacceptable. This was said in an interview with Latvian Television (LTV) by the Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas the Child. He also said that although we are relatively far away and in a completely different geographical context, Ireland understands Latvia. In less than a month – on October 9 – 30 years have passed since the beginning of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Ireland. Nowadays, we can say that we often have a similar position with the Irish in Brussels on various issues, and there is also a rather large Latvian diaspora in Ireland.

Anna Ūdre, the foreign news correspondent of the LTV News Service, talked to the Irish Minister for European Affairs.

Anna Ūdre: There has been some criticism of Latvia for how we have handled the situation on the border. On the one hand, it is, of course, a migration problem, we need to welcome these people. On the other hand, we look at what the Belarussian regime is doing and say that it is a hybrid war. How do you see this situation from our point of view and from the European Union?

Thomas the Child: The way in which Lukashenko is doing this is absolutely unacceptable. Unfortunately, this man is capable of everything. That must end. I know that the European Union is communicating with Iraq to stop direct flights to Minsk. It is so wrong to use people in this way – as a threat, as a weapon – against countries like Latvia. I fully understand the position taken by the Latvian Government. And Latvia, as far as I know, has always complied with the Geneva Convention. They are not asylum seekers, they are people who have paid large sums of money in exchange for easy entry into the European Union. And we cannot allow it to continue.

Anyone who crosses the border, especially if it is a woman or a child, must be admitted, but the government is criticized for bringing them back. Here, in a sense, the values ​​of the European Union clash with the regional ones. Do you see it that way too?

Listen, I do not look at what the Latvian government does on a daily basis, but what I do know is that Latvia is facing this problem, which is not a migration crisis, where people are simply seeking refuge. They are seizing the opportunity, while being part of Lukashenko’s strategy to put pressure on the European Union. And we just can’t accept that. Of course, we must treat people with respect, asylum seekers in accordance with the Geneva Convention. At the same time, we cannot allow people to be used as weapons in this new type of hybrid war. I stand in solidarity with the Baltic States and Poland, which are under enormous pressure because of this situation.

From your perspective, how do you see this situation being addressed? Do you think that European Union and Western sanctions are generally sufficient to change the way this regime works?

The Lukashenko regime must cease to exist. I share the view that sanctions can achieve this. We have implemented a step-by-step approach, where we increase sanctions over time. I think that more sanctions are needed against the regime and the companies that cooperate with it. What they need to understand is that the European Union and its Member States will not accept this situation until Ireland. There must be democracy in Belarus. Lukashenko must not be allowed to continue this repressive regime. Every day we hear more and more violations from this country and it cannot be allowed to continue on the European continent.

How has your relationship with the UK developed after Brexit?

Unfortunately, relations with Britain have changed. Relations between Ireland and Britain are complicated because Britain was a colonial queen for centuries. Due to the special situation in Northern Ireland and the need to maintain peace there. In recent decades, we have realized that this is only possible if the Irish and British governments work closely together. Consequently, for the sake of peace and good neighborly relations, as well as the fact that citizens of both countries live on both sides, we have always considered relations with Britain to be particularly important.

This has changed with Brexit, as our relations with Britain and the European Union have changed fundamentally. We still need this good relationship here, but it has not been easy, Britain has taken a number of unilateral decisions that we have not agreed to, especially with regard to the European Union. I would like to remind my British colleagues that this good relationship is vital to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland. This is in our interests, in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, and in the interests of Britain. They would also benefit from good relations with the European Union. Yes, they are gone, but no one benefits from constant struggle and disagreement. The British have a trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union, and now it is important that it is implemented.