Lithuania's foreign minister resigns over Belarus policy
Lithuanian foreign minister Vigaudas Usackas has resigned amid a row with president Gribauskajte over the relations with Belarus.
Foreign minister Vigaudas Usackas resigned on January 21. Different views on relations with Belarus were the last drop in the conflict between the minister and the president.
"Cooperation with the minister was not successful, because he lost president's confidence", Lithuanian president's spokesman Linas Balsis said when commenting on the situation.
The Lithuanian minister used to pursue a more principal and pro-democracy policy in relations with Belarus. But the president looks at Belarus in a more pragmatic way.
When asked what exactly caused minister's resignation, Linas Balsis mentioned only one reason. He said:
"Diplomacy and foreign policy is a very subtle sphere where information should be voiced carefully. Moreover, many diplomatic issues are not discussed publicly.... Regarding some decisions taken by the minister in regard to some neighboring countries, they were made as an ultimatum. However, the president supports a political dialogue".
Apparently, he was referring to a diplomatic note that Lithuania had sent to Belarus in connection with the so called 'January 13 case' On that day in 1991 the Soviet troops ruthlessly dispersed a protest demonstration in Vilnius, killing 14 civilians. The Lithuanian Office of the Prosecutor General opened criminal cases against General Uskhopchyk and Stanislava Janene who now live in Belarus. But the Belarusian Office of the Prosecutor General refused to extradite the two to Lithuania.
Usackas admitted that he sent the note to Belarus without permission of the president. But he insisted that he disagreed with Gribauskajte that notes would do harm to a political dialogue".
During his visit to Vilnius on September 17, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that Belarus was ready to cooperate with Lithuania over the 'January 13 case'.
Gribauskajte spent many years in Brussels, serving as a EU commissioner. Apparently, she learned European political principles very well. Her style differes significantly from the style of Lithuania's previous president, Valdas Adamkus. Local political commentator Victor Denisenko says that under Gribauskajte, Lithuania has entered a new era of Realpolitik..
Photo: Andrius Ufartas/BFL
