We all need a world in which we want to live and develop

Belarus’ capital has hosted the 2nd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. The forum gathered around 600 participants from over 40 countries — including Azerbaijan, Belgium, Hungary, the United Kingdom, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, the UAE, Russia, Serbia, Syria, France, the USA, and more — among which were high-ranking representatives. The conference also welcomed leaders of international organisations such as the CSTO, CIS, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and SCO, as well as experts from major think tanks across the Eurasian region. One and a half hundred Belarusian and foreign journalists were accredited to cover the conference events. Such a solid representation and a profound dialogue on the Minsk platform have eloquently testified to the high authority of Belarus and personally of Aleksandr Lukashenko on the global stage.

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The speech of the Belarusian leader was, as always, candid, sharp, and relevant. Welcoming the guests, the Head of State noted with regret that nowadays, it is possible to count on one hand the platforms where open and constructive expert discussions on international security take place,  

“We urgently need an honest conversation and impartial assessments of current events. Even more so, we need effective measures to counter present-day challenges and threats. If we do not unite in this regard and do not develop and implement these measures, it will be a disaster.”   

According to the President, the first conference, which took place in 2023, surprised even the most ardent sceptics who doubted that it would be possible to gather representatives from both the West and the East in such turbulent times. Its outcome was the project of Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century, the work on which has continued this year. The document is intended to accelerate the processes of political, economic, and other types of consolidation aimed at ensuring the security, strategic stability, and progressive development of our countries and peoples.
According to the Belarusian leader, comprehensive security must, by definition, provide guarantees to states not only in the military sphere but also in political, economic, informational, and other areas. Viewed from this perspective, the scale of the crisis that has engulfed the planet becomes evident. “Having assumed the title of the ‘leader of the free world’ after the collapse of the USSR and the entire socialist bloc, the United States, despite all its potential, has proven unable to be a single global pillar and guarantor of security in the broad sense. Meanwhile, international institutions, which are meant to serve as universal mediators or arbitrators, often demonstrate complete paralysis, limiting themselves to mere empty statements and representative functions,” the Head of State underlined. 
Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that the absence of a system of checks and balances has led to a degradation of security in all spheres. “First: politics. All postulates of democracy have failed. We see that there is democracy for domestic consumption, and democracy for export,” stated the President. “What democratic values can explain what is happening in the Middle East and Ukraine? Is an option to physically eliminate anyone — be it a political or public figure, a businessman, scientist, or journalist whom, for example, the USA and its satellites deem a threat to national security — the pinnacle of democracy? What does the declaration of the UN Secretary-General as a persona non grata for his principled stance have to do with democracy? How should we interpret the relentless attacks on António Guterres for attending the BRICS Summit, an association of countries that contribute nearly 40 percent of the global GDP?”  
The Head of State noted that entire nations are subjected to attacks. In countries that dare to follow their own path, colour revolutions are instigated, loyal leaders and outright puppets are brought to power with the money of Western ‘soft power’ (NGOs). Even in the countries of the European Union, national-oriented politicians who advocate for the interests of their people are faced with criminal charges, fabricated cases, and even assassination attempts. “One of the reasons is the migration crisis. The rampant ‘democracy’ has led to a division in civil society on a frightening scale. We are witnessing a volatile situation in Germany, France, Poland, Moldova, Georgia, and others. Even the USA has been in turmoil during the last decade. I am afraid we may witness a civil war within the USA — everything is heading in this direction,” the President emphasised.  
Aleksandr Lukashenko continued, “Second: military security. Countries are increasingly forced to use military force to protect their sovereignty, internal stability, or to prevent escalation, which is very important today. The further escalation of the Ukrainian and Middle Eastern conflicts is fraught with irreparable ramifications on a global scale. However, by focusing only on these two hotspots, the world somehow ignores the fact that there are currently around 55 armed conflicts. Thousands of people die in them every day. Third: the economy. Illegal sanctions have been imposed on half the world. Entire sectors of the economy have been paralysed by illegitimate restrictions. The right to private property has been destroyed. And to think that for decades, the collective West has been lecturing us what private property should be. So where is it now? State assets are being seized, and sovereign financial resources are being brazenly embezzled. Gas pipelines are being blown up, and access to the sea is being blocked. Purchasing goods from Western brands is no longer a guarantee of technological security. After all, at any moment, we could be denied supplies of spare parts or servicing. Fourth: information security. The media have turned into a real weapon. Post-truth, endless fakes, manipulation of public opinion, appropriation of financial resources, and orchestrating coups d’état have a transnational character and are more dangerous in their power than any military intervention.” 
The President added, “My recent contacts with intelligent representatives of the ‘civilised West’ indicate that we are witnessing a certain shift. The West has finally — based on what I know — realised that it is necessary to negotiate on Ukraine.” 
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the worst thing that could happen is total militarisation of the planet. This would ignite very quickly with enormous consequences for everyone. To prevent this, we need to start thinking about how to find a new key to solving current problems and create functioning mechanisms for ensuring global security. The Belarusian leader is convinced that this key lies in Eurasia with its millennia-long experience in cultural and civilisational interaction. It is here that all the world’s axes intersect. How things will be here in the future will determine how they will be across the globe.
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The President of Belarus outlined a number of priority measures for de-escalating tensions in the world, as we see it here — in the heart of Europe:
1. In order to truly defuse the situation and create conditions for dialogue, it is necessary to remove US nuclear weapons from the territories of Eurasian countries. This deadly arsenal is an anachronism of the Cold War. Then, we will follow suit.  
2. It is essential to eliminate the practice of applying unlawful sanctions without decisions from the UN Security Council, and to establish an effective mechanism for international legal guarantees that prevent the use of such means of pressure.  
3. It is well worth developing a new contractual and legal mechanism for creating a transparent and comprehensible control regime over new deadly technologies capable of destroying all of mankind, even without nuclear weapons: lasers, hypersonics, quantum and electromagnetic systems, and other advanced developments with properties not yet fully studied.  
4. An entire industry aimed at creating and implementing malicious solutions, with global-scale consequences, is developing in the cyber realm uncontrollably. An international legal act on cyber non-aggression should be adopted, which implies the rejection of the use of these weapons against each other, as well as the formation of a control system over their development and use.  
The President of Belarus has proposed to hold the next meeting in the Eurasia Plus format so that the voice of each country wishing to contribute constructively to the establishment of global security is heard. “Such a step is intended to mark the beginning of a new political process on measures to build trust, security, and co-operation — similar to the Helsinki process, but one that responds to today’s realities, to which we have repeatedly urged the entire international community together with you,” concluded the Head of State.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by