‘We will not hesitate to respond’

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, convened a meeting of the Security Council. A number of issues aimed at ensuring the national security of Belarus were submitted for consideration at the event.

Not only representatives of the security agencies were invited to the Palace of Independence, but also the leadership of the government, the President Administration of both chambers of Parliament. All those who are called upon to ensure the protection of the national interests of Belarus from any external encroachment. Describing the situation along the perimeter of our borders, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that NATO countries are persistently promoting their expansion policy, building up their military presence around Belarus, and constantly conducting provocative exercises on our borders. And they are not limited to just that. 

“Due to the tense situation in the world and directly at our borders, due to the sanctions-fuelled pressure we cannot be absolutely calm and confident in tomorrow. NATO countries persistently pursue an expansionist policy, build up military presence around Belarus, and constantly stage provocative exercises at our borders in addition to taking other actions. They have already gone so far that their military personnel violate the state border. 

Well, we will clarify it today... They justify their actions by some threats that allegedly originate from Belarus’ territory. The leaders of Poland and the Baltic states accuse Belarus of some mythic aggressive intensions that we’ve never had and cannot have,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President stated that the leaders of these countries are also whipping up hysteria around the presence of personnel of the private military company (PMC) Wagner in Belarus’ territory.
“They went as far as to demand their immediate withdrawal from Belarus. At the same time, they themselves are increasing military budgets, amassing large military formations at our border. 

Everything is simple: neither Poland, nor Lithuania nor other Baltic countries should have a single foreign military officer or soldier on their territory. Only in this case they have the right to protest against the presence of the military from other countries here. Otherwise, these are unreasonable and stupid demands (not even requests and proposals, but demands),” the Head of State noted.

In addition to that, in April Warsaw announced its decision to suspend its Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty obligations in relation to Belarus, though this is actually the last legally binding international document in the field of arms control.
“This is already a dangerous step, and we should keep reminding Poland’s leadership about this — so that their decisions will not come back to hurt them. How should we respond to this? I’m not even talking about the training of our self-exiled opposition on their territory for a military coup in Belarus. I want to warn once again that we will not hesitate to respond. Though, credit where credit is due, our self-exiled opposition members in Poland, Lithuania and especially in Ukraine understand what for they are being used,” the Belarusian leader said.
At the same time Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that Belarus is ready to restore good relations with its neighbours, who cannot be chosen as he says.
“However, in response to all our messages we hear only accusations and threats. It means that they don’t need any normalisation at all,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
In confirmation of what was said and in order to rule out any insinuations, Belarus has invited Poland’s representatives to observe the Collective Security Treaty Organisation exercise Combat Brotherhood 2023, which began in Brest Region on September 1st.
In this context the Head of State suggested looking into a number of matters relating to efforts to ensure national security.
After the event, State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich and Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin told reporters about some of its results.

Aleksandr Volfovich, State Secretary of the Security Council, 

“Meetings of the Security Council are scheduled and approved by the President for a year. The last meeting was not connected with any extraordinary circumstances. This is a planned event, which was devoted to the analysis of the foreign policy situation, threats and challenges in the field of national security. Absolutely no emergency measures were developed, but the situation around Belarus makes us constantly vigilant. A number of proposals were reported to the President. Not only military matters. Measures concerning various spheres were discussed: politics, economy, social affairs  and demography. The President personally keeps an eye on everything relating to threats in the sphere of national security. The Head of State instructed to finalise these proposals and submit them to him in the form of a resolution of the Security Council. The decisions are aimed primarily at improving the living conditions of our citizens. Belarus does not threaten anyone and does not develop any threatening measures for the security of other countries. On the contrary, we are ready for co-operation and interaction. The programme that allows people to visit Belarus without visas from Poland and the Baltic states is kind of a Belarusian Schengen. Unfortunately, it is unilateral. We take measures aimed at benevolent relations with Poles and get demands and terms in return. They create queues at border crossings. They close border crossings and threaten to close the borders. These are possibly the European ‘democratic’ values for you.” 

Viktor Khrenin, Defence Minister, 

“The exercises are more of a headquarters character. If you look at the history of the existence of the CSTO and the conduct of these exercises, you can see that they are planned ten years ahead. These exercises are intended solely for coordinating the structures of the CSTO. Based on the results of the mission in Kazakhstan, we held a number of conciliation meetings, saw the problem of some compatibility of our troops, and made appropriate changes to the documents. In these exercises, they will be worked out and tested. The contingent that came to us is quite small. Everything has been declared and demonstrated: how many participants, which military training areas will be used. We train our military personnel, our army how to respond to possible risks and threats... And the fact that the exercises are taking place, among other things, at the Brest training ground near the Polish border and our neighbours are trying to speculate on this, we can note that the exercises are taking place at several training grounds on the territory of Belarus at once, and the main contingent participating in them is our Armed Forces. We use the practice of inviting foreign observers from time to time. Often, for example, we invite the office of military attaches who are present in Belarus. Both for exercises and for a number of other events. Sometimes they come, sometimes they don’t. But we say that there will be no threats from us... First of all, covert reconnaissance is conducted against our country from satellites. We see how we are being watched not only from satellites, but also through other technologies. The task of the observers is to look at the topics worked out during the exercises and the training of the troops itself. It’s better to see everything for yourself once than through some kind of camera.”

A number of telephone conversations with foreign leaders were held by the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, on August 30th
Topical issues on the bilateral agenda, as well as acute concerns of the regional and international situation, were discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Promising directions for the development of Belarusian-Kazakh co-operation were discussed in a conversation with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The leaders of the countries also exchanged views on international challenges.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also had a telephone conversation with the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The Heads of foreign States warmly congratulated the President of Belarus on his birthday in the course of personal communication, as well as in numerous messages.


Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
Photos by Belta