Ryzhenkov told what missions are expected in Belarus in the run-up to the presidential election

Maxim Ryzhenkov noted that on the eve of the presidential election our country expects the arrival of observation missions from the CIS, SCO, other organizations and centers dealing with this issue, as well as central election commissions of countries from all over the world. As for the OSCE observers, according to the Minister, they have been "tested" in Western countries beforehand.

Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus:

"When there are no common standards, when you invent certain standards, and certain experts say, these standards only work for you, there are no democratic countries, and when everything is written in advance, conclusions are formulated in advance, when there are foreign agents from among our citizens, or citizens of other countries, who are at this time in Belarus, or people with dual citizenship are engaged in this kind of things, so why do we need such observers?"

The Belarusian Foreign Minister also spoke out on the issue of maintaining diplomatic relations with the countries that try to interfere most actively in the internal affairs of our country.

Among them there are our neighbors Poland and Lithuania. Maxim Ryzhenkov stated that the actions of opponents often harm themselves. This shows the example of the same Lithuania, to the people of which - the Minister recently issued an open letter.

"Look at how much you lose from the lack of normal relations with Belarus alone. And only with Belarus, so, according to our most modest calculations, it is a direct industry, I am not talking now about the benefit released there, here, or how the dynamics could increase due to the fact that there are transit corridors from west to east, due to the fact that there are Lithuanian ports there. So, it's only that it looks like about a billion dollars a year, " Ryzhenkov said. " Today they are discussing where to get money for pensions, where to get money to raise the salaries of their state employees and so on."

He reminded that only a while ago, thousands of Belarusian citizens traveled to Lithuania for tourism and shopping, leaving considerable sums there. Right now, that source is gone. Summarizing, the Foreign Minister once again spoke in favor of preserving diplomatic contacts, "because while diplomats are talking, guns are silent".

Today, on the margins of the UN General Assembly, our Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov addressed the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter and the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations. The Belarusian Foreign Minister also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Cuba, Syria and Venezuela. He is also going to render a speech from the high rostrum of the UN.