Lithuanian government on January 18 renounced the agreement signed with Belarus 16 years ago on the principles of cross-border cooperation.
The Interior Ministry, which initiated the process, says the implementation of this agreement is impossible in the existing geopolitical situation and will not be possible in the near future.
“This would also be an expression of political will because the current situation is abnormal. On the one hand, the cooperation agreement is in force, and on the other hand, the Belarusian government has taken a confrontational stance, both by organising the flow of irregular migrants and by being directly involved in and supporting Russian aggression,” Deputy Interior Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius said earlier.
The bill terminates the agreement signed by the governments of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius on June 1, 2006, to set out areas of cross-border cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
Under the document, Lithuania and Belarus agreed to cooperate on infrastructure, environmental protection, energy efficiency, tourism, recreation, sports, cultural heritage, education, business infrastructure, cross-border movement of vehicles and passengers, etc.
The two countries also agreed to exchange information and provide assistance in the event of natural and technogenic emergencies at the border. (LRT/Business World Magazine)
