German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Belarus’ chief Alexander Lukashenko held a cellphone name on Monday to debate humanitarian support for refugees and migrants stranded on the EU-Belarus border, a German authorities spokesperson mentioned.
The uncommon cellphone adopted a call by the European Union to step up sanctions https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-step-up-sanctions-belarus-over-escalating-border-crisis-2021-11-15 in opposition to Belarus, which denounced as “absurd” Western accusations that it was driving a migrant disaster that has left 1000’s of individuals stranded in freezing forests on its borders with the EU.
“The Chancellor and Mr. Lukashenko spoke concerning the tough scenario on the border between Belarus and the European Union – particularly concerning the want for humanitarian support for the refugees and migrants there,” German authorities spokesperson Steffen Seibert mentioned in a press release.
Merkel and Lukashenko agreed to proceed their alternate on these points, Seibert added.
The talks are the primary contact between the Belarusian president and a western chief after presidential elections in Belarus in August 2020 at which Lukashenko claimed victory, igniting the largest avenue protests within the nation’s historical past.
With its resolution to step up sanctions, the EU is looking for to cease what it says is a coverage https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/how-minsk-became-mecca-migrants-travelling-tourists-2021-11-15 by Belarus to push migrants in the direction of it.
The transfer is seen as revenge for earlier EU sanctions over a crackdown on protests final yr in opposition to veteran chief Alexander Lukashenko’s contested re-election.
(Reuters)