Mihkelson visits Lithuania-Belarus border with his counterparts

NordenBladet —

Today, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson will meet with his Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish counterparts in Vilnius to visit the Lithuania-Belarus border and get an overview of the situation there.

Mihkelson pointed out that the illegal migrants who had arrived at the Lithuanian border constituted a serious security risk, which was caused by Belarus’s attempt to give Lithuania a harsh lesson. “It is the first time for all Baltic States to experience such a situation. The aim of the hybrid attack targeted firstly at Lithuania, but actually against the whole Baltic allied space, is to persuade the international community to refrain from sanctions against the Belarusian regime and supporting the Belarusian civil society,” he said. “Such hybrid attacks sow insecurity and division, and are a serious threat to the security of states.”

“Estonia has stretched Lithuania a helping hand. It is important to continue strong cooperation and active exchange of information. We must show that there is an international unanimity to face the problem, to ensure the security of the region and to continue supporting the Belarusians’ aspirations for freedom,” Mihkelson added. “The visit is a clear sign of our solidarity with our southern neighbour. We condemn the activities of the Belarusian regime and do all we can to stop the hybrid attack,” he emphasised.

Mihkelson said that the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees would also commemorate one-year anniversary of the beginning of the people’s revolution in Belarus by participating in the reception of the Belarus civil society on the invitation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

There will also be meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis as well as Advisors to the Prime Minister of Lithuania Kęstutis Lančinskas and Galina Vaščenkaitė.

At 11.45 a.m., the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees will give a press conference at the Lithuanian Border Guard School in Medininkai.

Source: Parliament of Estonia