"I understand our businessmen who have invested in Belarus, however, we should not forget that Lithuania is an EU member-state and that the EU should speak in one voice about foreign policy. Consequently, Lithuania will naturally be with all of the EU on the sanctions against the Belorussian regime," Degutienė said in an interview to Ziniu Radijas news radio on Wednesday.
In a communiqué issued on Monday, the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, the Lithuanian Chamber of Trade, Industry and Crafts and the Lithuanian Business Employers' Confederation said that businessmen feared the diplomatic conflict between the EU and Belarus was transforming into economic sanctions, which would affect the Lithuanian businesses.
"In the light of Lithuanian businesses in Belarus, Lithuania speaks for targetted and well-measured sanctions against people and companies that support the current political regime of Belarus, benefits from the regime and the regime's operations. However, the sanctions should not have an impact on ordinary citizens of Belarus and Lithuania consistently speaks for the so-called parallel policies towards Belarus," the Lithuanian parliamentary speaker noted.
"I think the situation will be subjected to thorough re-examination by the Foreign Ministry. After receiving the address from the industrialists, I forwarded it to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania for examination at the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and the European Affairs Committee. Then we should give an answer to the industrialists. But once again – we should not forget that Lithuania is a member of the EU. Yes, we have neighbors, but we should speak in one voice with the EU in the political sense," Degutienė said on Wednesday.
EU foreign ministers should discuss new sanctions against Belarus later this week.
