Session of Belarus’ Security Council
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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko approved a new edition of the Military Doctrine of Belarus following the meeting of the Security Council on 22 January, BelTA learned from the press service of the head of state.
Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed to amend, if necessary, the document in the light of today’s discussion. In the near future the President will submit the draft law providing for the adoption of the Military Doctrine to the Parliament.
The President drew attention to the fact that the new military doctrine defines the views of the Belarusian state on the ways to ensure military security and armed defense.
“With good reason we can openly reaffirm our peaceful policy and the absence of hostility towards other states. At the same time, we can point out our resolution to defend our national interests, including, if needed, with the help of the entire military organization of the state,” the Belarusian leader said. “It means that we do not need the things belonging to others but we will not give up an inch of our land either. This is quite clear.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that there are no direct military threats to Belarus. “Other types of challenges have come to the forefront. The proverbial wisdom teaches us to keep our powder dry. This wise saying is still relevant,” the head of state noted.
The President recalled that the current doctrine was passed a decade and a half ago. The situation in the world and around Belarus has changed dramatically since then. Tensions between global and regional centers of power in the fight for redistribution of spheres of influence have aggravated and the willingness to protect geopolitical interests using all tools has enhanced.
"The active use of ‘colored revolutions’ to overthrow legitimate governments has led to an increase in the number of armed conflicts. The method of undermining a state from within has been increasingly used to reach political goals,” the Belarusian leader said.
"Iraq is in chaos. So are Libya and Yemen. The bloodshed in Syria continues. The situation in Ukraine has not been stabilized yet. A number of ‘hot spots’ have been frozen and can break out at any moment,” the Belarusian head of state noted.
The President noted that terrorism has flooded the whole world, from the European continent to the United States of America, and refugees fleeing wars flow to Europe.
"The contradictions between the Russian Federation and NATO member states have intensified, to say the least. Between them is Belarus, as if between a rock and a hard place,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He stressed that the threat to global and regional security has not gone away. Further escalation of the situation may have irreparable consequences both for Europe and for all humankind.
The President drew attention to the fact that there are new phenomena requiring an adequate response. Traditional forms of war are replaced with new ones, including the so-called hybrid wars. The role of information leverage in shaping public opinion in a given state has increased significantly.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the analysis of the present-day situation requires adjustments to the country’s national security approaches, including in the military sector. In his words, last year the Defense Minister was tasked to explore all options of possible response with the use of force to contemporary threats taking into account the long-term forecast and reflect this in the new edition of the Military Doctrine, which was accomplished.
Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested discussing the amendments to the document, including means of conducting an armed struggle, the present military political situation from the perspective of the country’s national security, and the ways any external threats can affect the country.
“Ensuring stability and security is the main condition for sustainable development of the state and our most important task today,” the President stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that Belarusian people will not forgive the government if it fails to ensure the country’s security and sovereignty.
“People in every country, and this is particularly relevant to Belarusians, have always had complaints towards the government about high prices, meat and dairy products, quality of Belarus-made clothes which is thought to be inferior to that of imported ones, small retirement pensions, broken fences, leaky roofs, snow in the streets that the government has not removed, and many others things. With time, the complaints will go away, or will be forgotten, or people, as it always happens, will forgive the government. However, there is one thing that will not be forgiven – if we do not manage to ensure people’s safety and the country’s sovereignty. When there is no land for our children and grandchildren, then they will forget about clothing, meat and milk. If one day there is only one ruble left in the budget, in the government’s pocket, it should be spent on the security of our people, on ensuring a safe life for them. This is the main thing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited Ukraine. "Ask any Ukrainian living there today, not only in Donetsk, Donbass, Lugansk: what the main thing for them is. They do not have a normal life from the point of view of our people. They do not care about meat prices, currency exchange rate, etc. They dream that they be left alone, that the situation get back to normal, and that peace be restored. The rest, as the Ukrainians say, can be achieved through work,” the Belarusian head of state said.
“Whatever it takes we must maintain peace on our land, ensure a safe life for our people and defend the land we have inherited,” the President of Belarus stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed to amend, if necessary, the document in the light of today’s discussion. In the near future the President will submit the draft law providing for the adoption of the Military Doctrine to the Parliament.
The President drew attention to the fact that the new military doctrine defines the views of the Belarusian state on the ways to ensure military security and armed defense.
“With good reason we can openly reaffirm our peaceful policy and the absence of hostility towards other states. At the same time, we can point out our resolution to defend our national interests, including, if needed, with the help of the entire military organization of the state,” the Belarusian leader said. “It means that we do not need the things belonging to others but we will not give up an inch of our land either. This is quite clear.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that there are no direct military threats to Belarus. “Other types of challenges have come to the forefront. The proverbial wisdom teaches us to keep our powder dry. This wise saying is still relevant,” the head of state noted.
The President recalled that the current doctrine was passed a decade and a half ago. The situation in the world and around Belarus has changed dramatically since then. Tensions between global and regional centers of power in the fight for redistribution of spheres of influence have aggravated and the willingness to protect geopolitical interests using all tools has enhanced.
"The active use of ‘colored revolutions’ to overthrow legitimate governments has led to an increase in the number of armed conflicts. The method of undermining a state from within has been increasingly used to reach political goals,” the Belarusian leader said.
"Iraq is in chaos. So are Libya and Yemen. The bloodshed in Syria continues. The situation in Ukraine has not been stabilized yet. A number of ‘hot spots’ have been frozen and can break out at any moment,” the Belarusian head of state noted.
The President noted that terrorism has flooded the whole world, from the European continent to the United States of America, and refugees fleeing wars flow to Europe.
"The contradictions between the Russian Federation and NATO member states have intensified, to say the least. Between them is Belarus, as if between a rock and a hard place,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He stressed that the threat to global and regional security has not gone away. Further escalation of the situation may have irreparable consequences both for Europe and for all humankind.
The President drew attention to the fact that there are new phenomena requiring an adequate response. Traditional forms of war are replaced with new ones, including the so-called hybrid wars. The role of information leverage in shaping public opinion in a given state has increased significantly.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the analysis of the present-day situation requires adjustments to the country’s national security approaches, including in the military sector. In his words, last year the Defense Minister was tasked to explore all options of possible response with the use of force to contemporary threats taking into account the long-term forecast and reflect this in the new edition of the Military Doctrine, which was accomplished.
Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested discussing the amendments to the document, including means of conducting an armed struggle, the present military political situation from the perspective of the country’s national security, and the ways any external threats can affect the country.
“Ensuring stability and security is the main condition for sustainable development of the state and our most important task today,” the President stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that Belarusian people will not forgive the government if it fails to ensure the country’s security and sovereignty.
“People in every country, and this is particularly relevant to Belarusians, have always had complaints towards the government about high prices, meat and dairy products, quality of Belarus-made clothes which is thought to be inferior to that of imported ones, small retirement pensions, broken fences, leaky roofs, snow in the streets that the government has not removed, and many others things. With time, the complaints will go away, or will be forgotten, or people, as it always happens, will forgive the government. However, there is one thing that will not be forgiven – if we do not manage to ensure people’s safety and the country’s sovereignty. When there is no land for our children and grandchildren, then they will forget about clothing, meat and milk. If one day there is only one ruble left in the budget, in the government’s pocket, it should be spent on the security of our people, on ensuring a safe life for them. This is the main thing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited Ukraine. "Ask any Ukrainian living there today, not only in Donetsk, Donbass, Lugansk: what the main thing for them is. They do not have a normal life from the point of view of our people. They do not care about meat prices, currency exchange rate, etc. They dream that they be left alone, that the situation get back to normal, and that peace be restored. The rest, as the Ukrainians say, can be achieved through work,” the Belarusian head of state said.
“Whatever it takes we must maintain peace on our land, ensure a safe life for our people and defend the land we have inherited,” the President of Belarus stressed.