It’s important to emphasise that these people are in Belarus legally and trying to enter the European Union illegally. Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are doing the duty of border states, i.e. defending the external border of the European Union and NATO.
We’ve been dealing with this crisis constantly since summer and we’ve also been in contact with our Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian colleagues, exchanged information and offered our assistance. We’ve also made efforts internationally to ensure that our messages reach our allies in the European Union and NATO. I’m pleased to say that the way European institutions view this situation is exactly the same. This is a hybrid attack and Europe must act as one.
The situation demands a joint and clear international response and intensive clarification of the situation to many international partners. It’s important that our allies as well as the EU institutions stand behind Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. We have a similar understanding of the situation.
It’s great that the foreign ministers of the European Union made a clear political decision on the adoption of additional sanctions yesterday. As Lukashenka is a dictator, all he understands is force and the sanctions allow us to show our force.
Diplomatic pressure on the countries from where people are coming to Belarus has also increased. I’m pleased to say that the European Commission has played a leading role in restricting flights from these countries and preventing the citizens of certain states from getting on board.
One of the goals of our diplomatic work is making Lukashenka allow UN aid organisations to enter his territory, because all violations of human rights that are taking place are taking place in the territory of Belarus. There is no such thing as an area between borders. These people are in the territory of Belarus and trying to illegally enter the territory of the European Union.
The border of Estonia is well guarded and there is no direct threat to Estonia at present. We’ll continue to strengthen border control at both external and internal borders and will be ready to deal with people trying to cross the border illegally.
It’s important to take preventive steps to strengthen the border. Our discussion in the Security Committee yesterday focused on how to build temporary barriers on our eastern border and how to do it as fast as possible. The parts of the border that aren’t covered with fences yet will get temporary barriers for as long as the construction of the border is completed.
