Belarusian Foreign Ministry accuses Western states of meddling in country’s internal affairs

Belarus has been the scene of social unrest since incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won the August 9 presidential election, with the opposition rejecting the official results and alleging voter fraud.

The United States and the European Union, in particular, have repeated the allegation and dismissed Lukashenko’s re-election. Anti-government protest rallies have ever since been held in the country and reports say hundreds have been arrested.

Moreover, the US, Britain and Canada are weighing the imposition of sanctions on Belarusian individuals over alleged rigged elections and the use of violence against protesters.

"We note with regret the increasing attempts by a series of countries to abuse the United Nations (UN) platform including the Security Council, to further their own narrow political interests. This includes some Western nations focusing their attention on the situation Belarus," Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told the UN General Assembly in a video statement on Saturday.

Stressing that the people of Belarus made their choice during the presidential elections in August, Makei said there are attempts by some Western states to create instability and stage a color revolution in the Eastern European country.

"They chose a stable and prosperous state, they chose peace and good neighborly relations, they chose sustainable development. However, rather than respecting this choice, we are seeing attempts to destabilize the situation in our country. Following unsuccessful attempts to impose color revolutions on us, we are now experiencing external interference aiming to undermine the very construction of our state," the foreign minister said.

"Statements rimming with cynicism have been made by a series of our Western colleagues about their alleged concerns for Belarusian sovereignty and well-being. In actual fact, they are nothing other than attempts to bring chaos and anarchy to our country, to make Belarus lose many years of development," Makei added.

Calling on the Western partners of Belarus to demonstrate impartiality and restraint in their attitude toward the country, the top Belarusian diplomat said any attempts to meddle in Minsk’s domestic affairs as well as external pressure on the country would backfire.

"Interference in our internal affairs, sanctions and other restrictions on Belarus will have the opposite effect and are harmful for absolutely everyone," Makei said. "The future is not to be decided at the barricades but through civilized dialogue including through the process of constitutional reform which has already begun."

Talking to le Journal du Dimanche, French President Emmanuel Macron advised Lukashenko to accept the logic of democracy and step down.

“We are witnessing a power crisis in Belarus with an authoritarian administration that is not able to accept democracy logic,” Macron said. “...It is clear that Lukashenko must go.”

Lukashenko was sworn in as president of Belarus for a sixth term on Wednesday and proposed drafting a new constitution.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to grant a loan of 1.5 billion dollars to Belarus, reaffirming support for the elected administration in the country.

Putin has already advised the West against interfering in Belarus’ domestic affairs, and called for a peaceful resolution of the situation.

SOURCE: PRESSTV