the decision

Description

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on all European Union member states to withdraw their ambassadors from Belarus, and after withdrawing its own ambassadors from Brussels and Warsaw, Belarus asked all EU ambassadors to leave the country. Germany said that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko would not manage to divide EU members. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle gave this statement, "This is the last dictatorship. This is the last dictator in Europe, and we will not let ourselves be intimidated by such actions against one European institution or against one member state. The dictator fools himself when he thinks he can divide us. We will react together. I suggest that we all recall our ambassadors from Belarus to our capitals. This is what Germany will do." But foreign ministers of some EU states criticized the decision. Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Audronius Ažubalis said, "I think it's regrettable. I think it's an unwise step because ambassadors, this is a key figure to keep the dialogue. If you are pushing out ambassadors, if you are withdrawing, it means that you are refusing the dialogue." Sweden's Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Bildt said the Belarusian president appeared increasingly desparate, "When one asks ambassadors to European Union and Poland to leave, there will be a response from the European Union. The dictator is starting to burn his last bridges, which is not going to end well for him." Minsk announced its move just as the EU formally decided to bring new sanctions against Belarus, imposing restrictions on 21 judges and senior police officers in response to a worsening human rights situation. The new sanctions are likely to increase Belarus' isolation, making it still more reliant on Russia, which bailed it out at the peak of a financial crisis last year.