Brussels, 29/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Belarus accused the European Union on Wednesday 29 February of having chosen to crank up tension by recalling its ambassadors after Minsk itself had asked the head of the EU delegation and Polish ambassador to leave the country. Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sergei Savinykh said that the EU's kneejerk reaction showed one thing - that Brussels had opted for “an escalation of tensions”. It was, he said “a path into deadlock”, adding that scare tactics would not work with Belarus. He went on to say that relations could not be normalised by the unilateral use of force. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he “deplored” the European sanctions. “In international relations, acting by force is something to be avoided”, he added.
Recall of European ambassadors. On Tuesday 28 February, following an emergency meeting to “coordinate the European response” to the expulsions of the EU head of delegation and the Polish ambassador, member states decided to recall their ambassadors to Belarus. “In an expression of solidarity and unity, it was agreed that the ambassadors of the EU member states in Minsk will all be withdrawn for consultations to their capitals” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. “All EU member states will also summon Belarusian ambassadors to their foreign ministries”, she added.
Poland said the expulsion of its ambassador was directed against the EU as a whole. Even before the emergency EU meeting, France and Germany had announced that they were recalling their ambassadors. German minister Guido Westerwelle said he was “outraged” at the decision by Minsk.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz said the Belarusian decision was “disproportionate, pointless and counter-productive”, describing it as an “act of hostility”. He stated that the regime should embrace democracy and “unconditionally” release and rehabilitate all political prisoners, a move which, he said, would help bring a review of EU sanctions.
Earlier on Tuesday, Belarus announced that, in response to fresh EU sanctions, it would ban anyone involved in adopting the measures from entering the country. The EU head of delegation and the Polish ambassador were invited to return to their home countries for consultations, to explain how unacceptable the pressure and sanctions were. Belarus has also recalled its permanent representative to the European Union and its ambassador to Poland for consultations. (CG/transl.rt)