Lukashenka: Land-locked Belarus will focus on Latvia if Vilnius reluctant

Belarus President Aliaksadnr Lukashenka on Tuesday appointed Vasil Markovich as a new Ambassador to Latvia. In his comments during the ceremony, he pointed to a huge potential in relations with this Baltic country.

"As you know Belarus has no access to the sea. If Latvia is willing to cooperate with us while Lithuania is somewhat reluctant, then one needs to focus on Latvia," the president's press office quotes Lukashenka as saying. Please make sure that they feel happy because they cooperate with Belarus. We are decent and reliable people, and they know it. If they make a step forward towards us on many issues, which we will propose to them, they will have a certain (and significant) effect."

In the words of Lukashenka, Latvian authorities "have experienced that not everything is decided in Brussels." The European Union "supports for some time in the beginning but expects that the country earns itself later." And Belarus together with Latvia can do just that.

"The key thing for us is that through Latvia we can ensure an unhindered access to the sea to our benefit. We need to work in this direction," Aliaksandr Lukashenka said.