Belarus favors direct dialogue with NATO, rejecting mediation

Belarus on Friday rejected a mediation proposed by Poland in its relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying it favors direct dialogue.

Belarus always advocates direct, without intermediaries, dialogue with all partners, including NATO, on the basis of national interests and mutual respect, Maria Vanshina, Belarusian Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesperson told local media.

The comment was in response to an offer made by Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski at a press conference held earlier in the day before a two-day NATO summit opened in Poland's capital city of Warsaw.

Waszczykowski said Poland could be a mediator in relations between the military alliance and Belarus.

There is no other alternative than to have open and honest dialogue among all parties concerned for the sake of regional peace and stability, said Vanshina, while reaffirming Minsk's opposition to increasing regional military tensions.

While deeming the NATO move not a direct security threat to Belarus, "we certainly do not welcome the deployment of additional troops in the Baltic states and Poland, but we can understand the logic of our partners and why they take such steps," said Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Thursday in the Latvian capital city of Riga after meeting his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics. Endi