October 26, Pozirk. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ contacts with Vladimir Putin and Alaksandar Łukašenka at the BRICS summit in Russia’s Kazan (October 22–24) are regrettable and incomprehensible, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told reporters.
It is sad that there are people in international organizations who believe that they can negotiate with anyone, she said, as cited by the Delfi news portal.
The UN General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so it is difficult to understand Guterres’ visit, she said.
For his part, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Vilnius will not dissuade the UN secretary general if he decides to resign.
Guterres must admit his mistake and take responsibility for not attending the recent Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, as well as for meeting with “war criminal Putin and his accomplice Łukašenka,” he stressed.
According to the UN press office, Guterres condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law at the BRICS summit.
On October 24, Łukašenka presented Guterres with a stork sculpture, telling the world’s top diplomat that storks are a symbol of peace. “António, we really need peace,” Łukašenka said.
He asserted that Belarus supports peace talks and peaceful resolution of all conflicts and embraced Guterres.
On the same day, the Belarusian strongman criticized the United Nations in an interview with the Russian daily Izvestiya. The international organization is incapable of stopping wars, he said.
Contrary to the position of the Belarusian pro-democracy movement on the issue, Guterres is in favor of lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash exports, citing food security. However, he has voiced concern over the human rights situation in the country.
He has also supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity and peace.
