Belarus blasts EU after envoys recalled
(MINSK) - Belarus accused the European Union of escalating tensions in a growing diplomatic row, after EU member states recalled all of their ambassadors to the ex-Soviet state.
Belarus had earlier told the EU and Polish envoys to leave and tell their capitals of Minsk's dissatisfaction with new sanctions measures, an unusual diplomatic step which prompted the recall by Brussels of all remaining EU ambassadors.
"The European Union's nervous reaction to a suggestion by Belarus that the EU and Polish envoys should hold consultations in their capitals shows one thing -- that Brussels is choosing to escalate tensions," the Belarus foreign ministry said in a statement.
"This is a path to a dead end," it said. "Brussels and other EU capitals should not forget that the tactic of intimidation does not work against Belarus."
Belarus has become Europe's most isolated nation under the strongman rule of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has effectively banned all forms of dissent since coming to power in 1994.
After also picking his battles with Moscow, he now relies on the exclusive economic assistance of Russia, whose current premier Vladimir Putin on Wednesday rose to Lukashenko's defence.
Putin, who is expected to win Sunday's presidential election, said Russia opposed all sanctions "because they lead to intervention ... as in the tragic cases of Libya and Iraq".
The EU on Wednesday published a list of 21 Belarus judges, prosecutors, and police officials said to be in charge of repression after post-election mass protests that shook Minsk in December 2010 and who have been banned from traveling to the EU.
The sanctions were branded "an unacceptable policy of outright pressure" by Minsk, which suggested to the envoys from Poland and the EU that they should depart Belarus and threatened "other measures to protect our interests".
Poland's ambassador Leszek Szarepka and EU's ambassador Maira Mora will be leaving Wednesday, European diplomats told AFP, without elaborating.
Poland has led the campaign in Europe to impose sanctions. It has also taken in many of those fleeing Lukashenko's regime, and has launching the Belsat TV satellite station for uncensored news about the ex-Soviet nation.
French ambassador Michel Raineri is still in Belarus but is preparing to leave "when everyone does," while German envoy Christof Weil is also preparing to depart for consultations in Berlin, though the exact date is not set, according to the diplomats.
Britain had also decided to recall its ambassador for consultations, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
Foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland, whose countries are meeting in Berlin, said they were determined to engage with Belarus.
"We also remain open for dialogue and cooperation with Belarus authorities as soon as there will be unmistakable signs of an improved political and human rights situation," the three ministers said in a statement.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski called on Belarus to release its political prisoners, while German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle went further still, calling Lukashenko "Europe's last dictator."
Lukashenko has vowed he would not to bow to pressure, telling diplomats from Norway and Luxemburg last week that "we will stand to our death here, protecting our independence and sovereignty."
He compared Belarus' current struggle to World War II, when its territory was occupied by Nazi forces.
Opposition observers however saw Lukashenko brinkmanship as a mistake.
The recall of ambassadors "will make Lukashenko even more dependent on Russia," said opposition politician Vladimir Nekliayev who stood against the president in the December poll.
"Belarus is not in a position to dictate to anyone by demonstrating force," he said.
Sergei Kalyakin, leader of opposition party Just World, added: "This will hurt people's interests, it will hurt the economy. He is only making his relations worse with the whole world."