Commentary of the Head of the Belarusian MFA press service Maria Vanshina in view of the actions of the Polish party, directed to the complication of the relations between Belarus and Poland

The MFA of Poland informed on July 15, 2005, that the councilor-envoy of the Belarusian Embassy in Warsaw has to leave the territory of Poland before July 20, 2005.

We point out the non-constructivity of the actions of the Polish party that break the mutual agreements and lead to the complication of the relations between Belarus and Poland. During the bilateral political consultations that have been held for the last two months, the parties have reached the understanding, that the further expulsion of the diplomats would have a negative effect on the development of the relations.

Such actions of the Polish party put obstacles in the way of the development of present mutually beneficial cooperation between two neighbouring countries.

The actions of the Polish party forced the Belarusian party to make a decision on the necessity of the departure from the territory of Belarus on July 21, 2005 of the councilor of the Polish Embassy in Minsk Andjei Buchak

The decision on the departure from the territory of Belarus of the councilors of the Polish Embassy in Minsk Marek Butko and Andjei Buchak is Belarusian party's reply step on the expulsion of two Belarusian diplomats from the territory of Poland and it is based on the principle of mutuality.

The Belarusian party reserves to itself the right to exercise in future the reply steps appropriate to the Polish party's actions.

The Belarusian MFA steps forth the constructive, mutually beneficial, neighbourly relations between Belarus and Poland. We express our hope that the Polish party realizes its responsibility for the further development of the bilateral relations.