Statement by the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the reaction of the EEAS to the next anniversary of the presidential election in Belarus 

Yet again, we are convinced of senselessness of serious consideration of the typical statements of the European External Action Service and some EU member states in connection to the next anniversary of the presidential election in the Republic of Belarus.

However, this time the European officials overdid themselves a bit and succeeded in falsifying the facts concerning the statements of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding Belarus.

We have been hearing high-flown phrases about the mythical support of the European Union to the Belarusian people, including the financial one, for decades. Belarusians are wise people and see perfectly well where such alleged support has led other countries to.

Following its independent course, Belarus is developing successfully. Despite the unprecedented sanctions pressure, GDP is growing steadily, large-scale industrial modernization projects are ongoing, decent social protection of the population is provided and the welfare of the citizens is growing. In the first five months of 2024 alone, real monetary incomes of the population increased by 9.6%. 

However, the situation in the EU countries causes growing dissatisfaction of ordinary citizens accompanied by acts of civil disobedience.

It seems that the European officials are willing to cover up their own failures and ill-considered decisions in the economy, energy sector, and migration policy with their statements about the Republic of Belarus. 

However, the most difficult thing for the European Union is to hide the obvious - the crisis of ideas of its own development and relationship building strategy with its neighbors, including Belarus. Instead of jointly confronting modern challenges and threats, solving common practical issues for the benefit of the whole region, unprecedented sanctions are imposed on Belarus, new and new barriers are invented for Belarusian citizens when crossing the EU border, which prevent, first of all, contacts between people and humanitarian cooperation.

We did not start this confrontation. But we are the ones who suggest that the European Union should return to objective realities, pragmatism and dialog. We understand that, deep down, European politicians probably realize the futility of their course. Unfortunately, they are not free enough in their own decisions and actions and are forced to look abroad all the time.

But if Brussels really thought about its citizens, it would have found ways to build constructive interaction with Minsk as well as to study the real situation in our country instead of spreading all sorts of scare stories and fakes. 

After all there are no problems. Thousands of EU citizens have already taken advantage of the Belarusian side's offer of visa-free entry to the Republic of Belarus. Why don't the European politicians follow the example of their citizens? Come to Belarus, see the situation with your own eyes. You will not regret it.