Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Minsk, October 29 (Xinhua) — Belarus is not a source of illegal migration for the European Union. This was stated by Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov on Tuesday during an event on migration at the Third Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. The corresponding information was published by Belta on the same day.
"Belarus is not a source of illegal migration and cannot be one by definition. Because there are no Belarusian citizens among the illegal migrants caught at the EU border. We are not creating any problems in this regard," stated M. Ryzhenkov, adding that no more than 0.5 percent of the total number of illegal migrants entering the EU from the east, including other routes, enters Belarus through Belarus.
He emphasized that Belarus is also combating illegal migration. The country has taken measures to address the migration problem toward the European Union. These measures include canceling flights for some airlines and tightening visa regimes with certain countries, which has negatively impacted economic and political relations with them.
"We went along with it. Today, the EU confirms this. The migrants detained at the border don't have Belarusian visas. To accuse the Belarusian side today of facilitating illegal migration is completely wrong," the Belarusian Foreign Minister noted.
M. Ryzhenkov assured that Belarus is also concerned about the current situation on the western border, which is not conducive to cross-border cooperation or maintaining normal contacts between people in border regions. All of this has been effectively thwarted, and through no fault of Belarus.
At the same time, he said, there is a willingness to restore cooperation if the European Union takes reciprocal steps. Belarus strives to establish a framework and status for relations with border states that will serve to prevent all threats: illegal migration, smuggling, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. –0–
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