MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Western nations to manage the immigration crisis, caused by the events in Afghanistan, in direct contact with Belarus.
"Talk to the Belarusian authorities, why are you talking to us? Russia has nothing to do with that," Putin said at a press briefing, following negotiations with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Western leaders have asked Putin to influence Belarus in the issue of Afghan refugees who have gathered on the borders of Lithuania and Poland.
"Western colleagues and leaders of certain European countries are urging me to take joint actions, as the crisis has emerged on the Belarusian-Lithuanian and Belarusian-Polish borders, they are asking me to somehow influence the situation. The answer is simple: this is not our business, this is not our border, this is the border of the Republic of Belarus, and the state borders of Lithuania and Poland," Putin said.
Putin compared the situation with the issue of dialogue with the Taliban (terrorist organization banned in Russia). "In principle, everyone wants to speak with the Taliban directly - although it is on the UN list of terrorist networks, they are saying that the Taliban is actually in control of the territory and should be talked with. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko didn't come to power as a result of armed fighting, he did so through a ballot, and it's a different question whether some like the results or not," he said.