Belarus recalls its ambassador to France for consultations

　　Xinhua News Agency, Minsk, October 18 (Reporter Rukinbo) Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Graz said on the 18th that the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled the country’s ambassador to France for consultations.

　　In an interview with Belarus on the return of French Ambassador to Belarus Dracoste to France, Graz said that Dracost entered Belarus as an ambassador in November 2020 and submitted a copy of his credentials to the Belarusian Foreign Minister in December of the same year.

However, the ambassador subsequently stated that he did not intend to complete his inauguration procedures in accordance with international law and generally accepted practices.

　　Graz said that White had to notify France for this, and that White's permission to agree to Dracoste's appointment had expired.

At the same time, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the Belarusian ambassador to France to return home for consultations.

He said that White’s recall of its ambassador was forced, and he hoped that the missions of the two countries would be able to resume full operations.

　　The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on the 18th, stating that the French ambassador to Belarus has not submitted a letter of credence to Belarusian President Lukashenko because the European Union did not recognize the results of the Belarusian presidential election last year, but only handed over a copy of the letter of credence to Belarus "in accordance with diplomatic practice." Foreign minister.

White therefore "unilaterally decided" to ask Dracost to leave the country.

　　The communiqué stated that in view of the recent decision of the Belarus side to restrict the activities of the French diplomatic missions in Belarus, the French side has also taken corresponding restrictive measures against the Belarusian diplomatic missions in France.

　　On August 9 last year, Belarus held a presidential election. Lukashenko won with a high number of votes and was re-elected.

Large-scale demonstrations followed in cities such as the Belarusian capital Minsk, and protesters questioned the results of the election.

According to reports, some Western countries, including the United States and France, do not recognize the election results.

(Participating reporters: Tang Ji, Hu Xue)