Minsk, February 29 (RHC)-- Belarus on Wednesday accused the European Union of "escalating tensions" in a diplomatic crisis by recalling their ambassadors after Minsk suggested two envoys should leave the country for talks.

"The European Union's nervous reaction to a suggestion by Belarus that the EU and Polish envoys should hold consultations in their capitals shows that Brussels is choosing to escalate tensions," the foreign ministry said in a statement issued in Minsk.

The Belarus foreign ministry said: "This is a dead end," adding that "Brussels and other EU capitals should not forget that the tactic of intimidation does not work against Belarus."

The statement was a reaction to the announcement by the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that all European ambassadors would be withdrawn from Minsk for consultations in an "expression of solidarity."

Earlier Tuesday, Belarus had suggested to the envoys from Poland and the EU that they should depart Minsk for their capitals, but did not say that the envoys were being expelled.

Belarussays that the way forward is to establish dialogue and cooperation with the European Union on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual respect.

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