It is too early to discuss the resumption of passenger train service between Vilnius and the Belarusian capital, Minsk, Deividas Matulionis, President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief national security adviser, has said.

“I think it’s too early to talk about this. In fact, we don’t see any changes in Belarus either,” he told Žinių Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

The 15min news portal reported last week that Lithuania had received a proposal from Minsk, via the Warsaw-based Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD), to restore passenger train service.

Transport Minister’s spokesman, Lukas Paškevičius, told the portal that the proposal was under consideration and awaiting evaluation by the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as the State Security Department (SSD).

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Monday that Lithuania would not rush to respond to Belarus’ proposal to restore passenger rail service between the two countries, noting that it was being considered according to standard procedures, just like any other proposal received.

Passenger train service between Lithuania and Belarus was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet been resumed, despite repeated requests from Minsk.

However, Matulionis stressed that it is the Russian and Belarusian security services that are trying to drive a wedge between Lithuanians and Belarusians.

“Belarusians are not Russians; they are a different nation, they are not aggressive, and they need to be encouraged to feel the desire to be free,” the adviser said.

Regular bus services between Lithuania and Belarus continue to operate daily.

Source: BNS

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