Foreign minister to push for free movement of goods

March 6, Pozirk. Belarusian Foreign Minister Siarhiej Aleinik has declared his intention to “push hard for the resumption of the free movement of vital goods, especially humanitarian ones.”

Alejnik was speaking at the foreign ministry’s board meeting today, a semi-official Telegram channel reported.

He accused westerners of “illegitimate transport and financial blockade,” “arbitrary application of their own sanctions legislation,” disinformation and gross violations of international trade law.

Over the past few years, the Western countries imposed sectoral sanctions on the Belarusian authorities for human rights abuses and their complicity in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

In February, the EU Council extended its sanctions and banned the transit of potash fertilizers from Belarus through the EU.

Latvia reported plans to ban imports of agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus on March 8.

However, Alejnik expressed cautious optimism.

“We are already seeing some signs that more and more of our opponents from Western countries are sobering up,” he said and pledged to tell people in the West “the truth” about their politicians acting “against national interests.”

He repeated the thesis that “the emerging multipolar and fairer world order is categorically unacceptable for the collective West, which is trying to save its political, financial and economic dominance by any means and at any cost.”

Alejnik said that “Belarus has defined its place in the new world order and established the contours and directions of its own dynamic development.” He noted that Belarus trades with more than 200 countries and territories and exports to 160 countries.

He described Russia as the closest ally and partner, mentioned strategic partnership with China and cooperation with the Global South.

Belarus’ accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization “has entered the final stage,” the foreign ministry said. The country also seeks to join the BRICS group of nations. Work to intensify cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations continues, he said.

Prime Minister Raman Hałoŭčanka, who served as ambassador to the UAE in 2013–2018, took part in the meeting.