Vilnius hopes to start strengthening the Lithuanian-Belarusian border in a few months, said Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas on Tuesday
Commenting on the presenter’s question about the terms of strengthening the border line with Belarus, the Lithuanian diplomat refrained from giving exact figures.
“Again, what stages we are [talking about]. For the initial defense of the border we are thinking [to spend] months. We are guided by that.”
He also noted the assistance of the European Union in this process through the reserves of Frontex (the European Union agency for external border security) “with their equipment and interpreters” as well as analysts and funding. The deputy minister also paid special attention to Kiev, which has expressed its willingness to provide barbed wire to strengthen the border of its northern neighbours.
“We are very grateful to Ukraine that they will strengthen our border with their reserves. Thank them”, – Adomenas added.
Since the beginning of the year, 4,026 illegal migrants have been detained on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. This is almost 50 times more than for the whole year 2020. Lithuania has faced the problem of accommodating them. All the specialised points available to the central authorities have long been filled up.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in late May that his country had served as a barrier to the flow of illegal migrants into the neighbouring state, but given the political pressure from the West, Minsk may wonder whether it is worth continuing to do so.