MINSK, May 8. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres unequivocally assesses the illegality of sanctions against Minsk, but the UN is not able to influence their initiators, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleynik said in an interview.
«Of course, we work with the UN, we have direct communication with the UN Secretary General. The President of our country, Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, maintains correspondence with the Secretary General. We have repeatedly raised these issues both at the level of the head of state and during personal contacts with the UN Secretary General. I can say that the Secretary General himself absolutely clearly assesses the illegality and counterproductiveness of sanctions, especially in relation to food products and potash and other types of fertilizers,” he said.
According to the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Guterres «is well aware that these restrictions are worsening the situation with food security in the world and leading to further starvation in many parts of our planet.»
He expressed regret that the UN «today is not able to exert the necessary influence on the initiators of not just illegal, but inhumane, inhumane sanctions that Western countries impose on these vital groups of goods.»
Belarus' relations with Western countries have deteriorated sharply after the 2020 presidential elections. Western countries gradually introduced sanctions against Belarusian officials and enterprises, industries, including potash and oil refining. At the same time, Lithuania has banned the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers through its territory to the port since February 2022.