Latvian Foreign Ministry: economic sanctions against Belarus can become reality

• 1.03.2012, 11:03

The European Union may introduce economic sanctions against Belarus.

Latvian entrepreneurs should keep this in mind, as State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Ministry Andris Teikmanis told Latvian radio.

According to the diplomat, the European Union can make a corresponding decision within one month. “It can become reality. This time it is serious,” he admitted.

Latvia is not a supporter of economic sanctions against its neighbors since it may worsen life conditions of regular Belarusians, Mr Teikmanis pointed out. However many other EU countries support a harder policy regarding Aliaksandar Lukashenka’s regime.

”We didn’t support the sanctions, and our position hasn’t changed in this regard. Anyway, if the decision on sanctions is taken we will do our best to prevent our entrepreneurs from losses. But I think that Latvia just cannot stop the sanctions from being imposed,” he emphasized.

In this regard, the Foreign Ministry is going to discuss the current situation with the local business. The new sanctions may concern business relations with the Belarusian entrepreneurs who are banned from entering the EU and who are active supporters of the ruling regime.

Mr Teikmanis added that Belarus can avoid the sanctions by releasing political prisoners. “Is the state really willing to pay millions for each the political prisoners? The people of Belarus should consider this question,” he said.