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Daniels Pavluts.

"The effectiveness of these proposed sanctions is what worries Latvia the most. We have on many occasions asked our EU partners what they believe these sanctions will lead to and what we will achieve," Pavluts admitted.

"It would be very sad if these sanctions harm the people of Belarus, businessmen not associated with the ruling regime, as well as EU members themselves, including Latvia," the minister said, whilst at the same time admitting that the political processes currently taking place in Belarus cannot be allowed to continue, writes LETA.

Speaking about the influence these economic sanctions could have on Latvia, the minister pointed out that it is too early to evaluate this, and that the government will do everything it can to lessen the effect of these sanctions. "Belarus remains an important trade partner for us," the minister added.

He predicts that when the EU sanctions are implemented, the regime in Belarus will find other cooperation partners outside the EU.

Economic cooperation with Belarus is important for Latvia, and this cooperation must be continued, President Andris Berzins said in an interview on Latvian Radio 4 today.

He pointed out that Latvia has historically been neighbors with Belarus, and cooperation has only improved the past several years.

The president also believes that current rift between Belarus and the European Union will be temporary.

''They are our neighbors, and I will insist for these relations to improve,'' the president pointed out.

However, he added that if the EU imposes sanctions, Latvia must fulfill these sanctions.

As reported, even though Latvia does not support the European Union's proposed economic sanctions against Belarus, it is very likely these sanctions will be imposed within the next month, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andris Teikmanis said on an interview on Latvian Radio earlier this week.

The diplomat explained that Latvia's position has always been that isolating Belarus is not the best policy, because dialogue can help solve problems. However, the regime in Belarus is currently putting itself in isolation.

Teikmanis believes that the EU's economic sanctions against Belarus will be imposed, because many countries within the bloc are committed to implementing these sanctions. Latvia has always been active during debates on economic sanctions, and has not supported imposing these sanctions on Belarus, because they could leave a serious impact on the people of Belarus.

"We have never supported sanctions against Belarus, and our position has not changed. However, we might not have enough influence to block the EU's decision," Teikmanis said.

LETA also reported, on Tuesday, Belarus recalled its ambassador to the EU in protest over the bloc's new sanctions against the regime of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Afterwards, Minsk expelled the bloc's representative and the Polish envoy. The EU in turn recalled its ambassadors to Belarus for consultations, including the Latvian ambassador.

"In a sign of solidarity and unity it was decided to recall for consultations all the ambassadors of EU states in Minsk," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.