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Lithuania has always been ready to help Belarus embark on a European path, Violeta Gaizauskaite, spokesperson for the Lithuanian foreign ministry, said in an interview with BelaPAN. “Belarus could demonstrate such a movement in the forthcoming parliamentary elections," the spokesperson said.

She emphasized the importance of European Union foreign ministers' Monday decision to consider the revision of the EU's sanctions against Minsk if the country's September parliamentary elections are free and fair.

Speaking about Belarusian opposition politician Alyaksandr Kazulin who has recently been released early from prison amid the West's pressure on Minsk, Ms. Gaizauskaite described the politician as a symbol of fight for freedoms and civic rights. She said that his recent meetings with EU officials also were "symbolic."

As for a September 11 meeting between the Belarusian and Lithuanian premiers, the spokesperson said that it had been fruitful. The premiers "exchanged opinions about a wide spectrum of key bilateral issues, as well as discussed the situation in the region," she said.

"Lithuania has its own interests in Belarus, as has Belarus in Lithuania," she said. "Dialogue on many issues that are directly connected with the everyday needs of our peoples should continue. The results of such dialogue are well known. They include the final demarcation of the shared border, trade growth, transit shipments, and preparations for an agreement on the two-way travel of border area residents that are nearing completion."

By Maryna Rakhlei, BelaPAN