“We must not be afraid to confront Russian interests in our region. In the end, it is Russia who chose the path of confrontation. We must not let Putin’s Russia deprive the Belarusian people of the possibility to choose the European way of development“, said the Belarusian leader.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also spoke about what Belarusians expect from the international community: “We want it to be clearly said by our Western partners: there will be international guarantees for Belarusian independence, for the non-nuclear status of Belarus, and for its future integration within European and transatlantic structures. There is no need to wait for changes. Already now, we can start cooperation between NATO and democratic Belarus within the “Partnership for Peace” program”.
The side event featured the Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Portugal, the Vice Foreign Minister of Latvia, the State Secretary of Finland, and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet.
