Meeting with State Secretary of Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich

It is essential to streamline the operation of the Security Council of Belarus, President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich on 25 February.

According to the President, in this process it is important to use the best practices of similar organizations in close countries, for example, Russia and Kazakhstan.

“We need to discuss a number of important issues. Of course, the main question is the Apparatus of the Security Council and the operation of the Security Council in general. The President is its chairman. We need to improve certain documents regarding the operation of the Security Council. On the example of Russia, Kazakhstan and other close states I would like to know how they ensure the operation of the Security Council,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus used the best practices of security councils in those countries in the past. “Nevertheless, in our conditions we need to step up efforts to revise and streamline the operation of the Security Council,” the President said. “The Security Council should convene regularly. It should focus on fundamental issues of security and defense of our state. It was mentioned that security is multilateral today. It includes food security, economic security in general, military threats. Therefore, we need to address a wide range of issues.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that after the appointment Aleksandr Volfovich, as an experienced staff officer, could take a close look at the situation. “In fact, this is a staff, but a top-level one – the staff of the President for defense and security. I think you will share your opinion. In the near future, at least next week, we need to formalize all proposals,” he said.

The President also suggested discussing the personnel pool in the Apparatus of the Security Council and the further operation of this agency. “Perhaps, there are other questions. For example, we can discuss personnel decisions and promotion, especially to the general’s rank,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

One of the issues raised by the President at the meeting was maintaining stability and security in Belarus throughout this turbulent year. “We have never made any secret of it. I have been saying it all the time. It will be a very challenging year,” he said.

“This is not only because there is some misunderstanding of the ongoing developments in society, but also because of a desire of some internal forces and to a bigger extent foreign players to destabilize the situation in Belarus. If not for external forces, there would have been no such pressure which is coming from all sides. Today they are already expressing their grievances about sport. They are trying to control us and tell us what to do. This runs afoul of all the charters and so on and so forth. However, we will fix it. It's not a problem. You see that they are using all possible means to rock the boat in Belarus little by little. They are sending messages and taking certain actions – this all is coming from abroad,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Fortunately, we have identified all these centers, all ‘zmagary’ and fugitives from Belarus. However, knowing is not enough. We must fight back. How will we act if the situation gets worse? Everything must be foreseen to the smallest detail, taking into account the experience of Belarus, and Russia, and Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine (you see, Ukraine is in commotion again), and other post-Soviet countries. We agreed on this a long time ago, and I think that you are ready for this,” the President added.