Posted:
23.01.2024 17:04:00
Security is a common task for every citizen of Belarus
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, held a meeting of the Security Council, which was devoted to the consideration of two most important strategic planning documents — the draft National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine of Belarus
The significance of the event, according to the Head of State, is also due to the fact that, according to the new Constitution, both documents are approved by the Belarusian People’s Congress.
The key directions for transforming modern risks, challenges and threats in the field of national security are set out in some detail in the concept and Military Doctrine, the Head of State stated.
“And many of the estimates and forecasts contained there are already coming true,” the Belarusian leader noted.
As an example, the President cited the situation in the Middle East.
“This is a terrible humanitarian disaster. Please note that threats to use nuclear weapons were made almost immediately after the escalation of the conflict. And, as is usually the case, there were no sanctions from the ‘civilised’ West. Duty statements as if nothing happened. Unfortunately, we have returned to a time when military force became the main argument in building interstate relations,” the Head of State said.As for the draft of the new Military Doctrine, it fully takes into account the ongoing cardinal changes in the military-political situation and new military dangers. Approaches to determining the nature of modern military conflicts have also been updated in the interests of developing adequate response measures for the armed defence of the country.
The President recalled that last year, following a meeting of the Security Council, where the draft National Security Concept was generally approved, the task was set to informally approach the preparation of a new concept and submit it for wide public discussion with the involvement of representatives of the scientific and expert communities, and the media. The Head of State instructed to discuss this document in detail and ask people’s opinions.
“After all, ensuring national security is our common task, every citizen of Belarus,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised.In this regard, the Head of State asked what specific results were obtained from the public discussion of the concept.
The draft of a new edition of the National Security Concept was approved in February 2023 at a meeting of the Security Council. Then the Head of State ordered a public discussion of this important document before submitting it for approval by the Belarusian People’s Congress.
During the year, 70 discussion platforms were organised in all regions of the country, in government bodies and organisations, labour collectives, educational institutions, trade unions and public associations with the involvement of representatives of the scientific and expert community, major religious denominations, and civil society actors.
At the current meeting of the Security Council, specific proposals were reported to the Head of State, which, based on the results of public discussion, are planned to be included in the updated concept. They relate primarily to additional protection of the institution of the traditional family, increasing the level of social responsibility of business, overcoming disproportions in regional development, specifying the list of national security forces, the conceptual apparatus used, and the procedure for approving a system of indicative assessment of the state of national security.
The decision to develop a draft of a new Military Doctrine was made after the approval of the new edition of the National Security Concept in February 2023. The new Military Doctrine does not provide for a radical revision of the provisions of the state’s military policy; the current provisions remain unchanged, and its defensive nature is preserved.
The document is public, open in nature, systematic, methodological, specific, corresponding to modern realities. At the same time, emphasis is placed on such national values as peace, stability, and security.
The new Military Doctrine reveals the content of our country’s military policy. In particular, it is emphasised that Belarus is a peace-loving country and does not threaten anyone. But attempts to interfere in internal affairs, and even more so the threat of using military force or aggression, will be suppressed using the full potential of the state.
After approval by the Security Council, the drafts of the new National Security Concept and Military Doctrine will be submitted for approval to the Belarusian People’s Congress.
The concept project aroused genuine interest
The Secretary of State noted the facts of the outbreak of new military conflicts in the world and sometimes threats made by some politicians about the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Moreover, Poland, a neighbour of Belarus, is asking to place American nuclear weapons on its territory.
“Today, Europe already hosts 150 American nuclear warheads, not counting the nuclear weapons of France and Great Britain. Some countries are still asking to be placed on their territory. It’s clear why, given their militaristic nature, aggressive statements towards our country,” Aleksandr Volfovich noted.
In this regard, the provisions of the concept are strengthened by the risks of military conflicts using nuclear weapons. Moreover, this proposal came from the citizens themselves.
Proposals to strengthen the social responsibility of business and overcome disproportions in regional development are also reflected.
The key message is the peaceful nature of the Belarusian people
The minister described the main idea of the updated document as follows, “The spirit of our doctrine is the peaceful nature of our people. We clearly emphasise and say that the Republic of Belarus does not consider any people as its enemy, despite the actions of their government.
An important feature of the document is that it is addressable. That is, it identifies the sources of threats and from which countries they come.”
In addition, a new chapter appeared in the document, which defines Belarus’ obligations to its allies. Here, the developers also took into account the experience of the coup attempt in Kazakhstan in 2022.
Ivana Zigon: the Slavic values that the President of Belarus defends will form the basis of the new world
“I will say the main thing: the Slavic values that the President of Belarus defends will form the basis of the new world that is being born before our eyes,” Ivana Zigon expressed confidence in a conversation with journalists. The actress admitted that for her there is no higher award than the one she accepted from the hands of the Belarusian leader, who stands in defence of Slavic values.
The special prize winner added that the whole of Serbia rejoiced at her award, “My phone was full of congratulations. This response once again showed how much the Serbian people remember the visit of your President and understand who their truest and most reliable friend is.”
Ivana Zigon also shared her memory of how her father reacted to the visit of the President of Belarus to Yugoslavia in 1999, “My father Stevo Zigon, an actor and director, was a prisoner of the Dachau concentration camp. He cried very rarely in his life. Moreover, I remember how in 1999 your President, risking his life, came to our country. We were watching the news and quite unexpectedly we saw your President. He visited children in the hospital who suffered from NATO bombing. And then my dad cried.”
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
