Heads of state should actively engage more in Ukrainian conflict settlement – Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes that the heads of state have not yet been active enough in their efforts to help resolve the Ukrainian conflict.
"If it is a war, in this case, probably, the heads of state should meet urgently, discuss this problem, take some measures and [adopt] decisions. But if they cannot do that, they at least should be clear about what they think of each other. So far, this is not happening," the Belarusian leader said at a meeting with Ivica Dacic, Serbia's foreign minister and chairperson-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in Minsk on Tuesday, according to the BelTa news agency.
Lukashenko also said he has a mixed attitude towards the OSCE. On one hand, the OSCE is a very necessary organization, he said.
"It is highly relevant today, as a military conflict has effectively broken out in Europe, and a war is effectively taking place between the conflicting sides. And in this situation, the OSCE could certainly play a major role," the Belarusian president said.
"On one hand, it is a necessary organization, which should play a significant role in maintaining security and cooperation in Europe, but, on the other hand, this role is insufficient," Lukashenko said. The organization itself, primarily the heads of state, is to blame for this, he added.
"On the other hand, the OSCE is trying and is probably doing everything possible and necessary today to settle the conflict in the east of Ukraine. But given the powers that the OSCE has today, without any impetus from the heads of state, the OSCE is unlikely to be able to do anything in this situation," Lukashenko said.
For this reason, new formats – the Normandy, Berlin, Minsk formats and other formats - are emerging today, he said.
"But all this could fit into one organization – the OSCE, and this is its function," the Belarusian leader said