Lithuanian PM: Belarus's propaganda attacks can surprise

Lithuania is puzzled at Belarus's statements about detained spies, who allegedly worked for Lithuania.

This remark was made by Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius on Thursday. The PM said such steps by Minsk were propaganda attacks.

“We are surprised  a little at these propaganda attacks, but we are not going to use the same methods to react to them,” Kubilous said in an interview to  Žinių Radijаs, BNS reports.

We remind the Belarusian KGB said recently the “Lithuanian spy” detained by the Belarusian security services was a Belarusian, a former member of the military, who lives in Vilnius's suburbs with his family.

The Lithuanian MFA called it an insinuation by the security services of the neighbouring country that does not contribute to improvement of Lithuania-Belarus bilateral relations. The Ministry of Defence of Lithuania declines to comment on intelligence and counterintelligence operations.

Speaking about the relations between the EU and Belarus, the Lithuanian PM said the EU needed an effective  policy towards all eastern neighbours.

“We provide the common EU policy, a concerted policy towards Belarus. Europe wants to help Belarus to become a democratic country that respects human rights. How to achieve it is a matter of tactics, which is actively discussed,” the PM said.

“We would like to see the common EU policy not only towards Belarus, but towards the whole region of EU's eastern neighbours. I think one should look for the key to Belarusian problems, a way to help it to become a democratic country not only in relations with Belarus, but in relations with a wider region,” Kubilius said.

“If the EU manages to carry out an effective, vigorous, dynamic policy of clear strategic interests in relation to its eastern members helping such countries as Moldova, Ukraine, South Caucasus countries to integrate with the EU in a faster and more effective way, it will give more opportunities to help Belarus,” the Lithuanian Prime Minister said.