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He made such a statement during a meeting with foreign military attachés at the Defense Ministry in Minsk.
“It is reported that if the West continues with its policy of escalating tensions, Belarus reserves the right to take a number of additional actions in the field of national security in 2021,” the ministry said in the Telegram correspondence.
His statement said that last year “the state of international military cooperation was affected by the pandemic and the disrespectful attitude of some states towards the expression of the will of the Belarusian people.”
In Belarus, mass protests have continued for more than half a year against the results of the presidential elections on August 9, which were declared the winners by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led the country since 1994. The opposition and Western democracies they see those choices as rigged.
The Minsk regime began to quell demonstrations using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. These actions by the security forces claimed the lives of several people. Thousands of people were found behind bars and hundreds more say they were tortured in custody.
The European Union has condemned the crackdown on protesters and imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies.
“The reaction to the presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus was politicized and did not aim to develop good neighborly relations. The current situation (the totality of external and internal threats to security) requires a reassessment of the military and political situation” emphasized the statement from the Ministry of Defense.
During the meeting, A. Voinov mentioned the “destabilizing” activities of NATO in Europe: the deployment of air defense systems, which it is preparing to deploy in Poland to 20,000. American troops, more intelligence, more bomber flights and Defender Europe 2020 military exercises.
“The position of the Republic of Belarus on the need for concrete and urgent measures to return to the path of constructive international cooperation in order to strengthen international and regional security, as well as [pasiūlytos] concrete measures to implement them ”, states the statement from the Ministry of Defense.
During the meeting, the military attaché was informed that Minsk is actively exploring the possibility of using its peacekeeping capabilities. An example is communication with Italy.
“We are ready to expand cooperation in this area and look forward to your suggestions,” Voinov said.
In addition, the attaché was briefed on the activities of the Belarusian army in 2020. This year, the main focus will be on joint training with Russia “Zapad 2021”.
Lukashenko goes to Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenko in the southern resort city of Sochi on Monday, the Kremlin said.
The report says the president plans to discuss the integration of the two countries under the Union’s state program, as well as economic, trade and energy projects.
Minsk, for its part, announced that the leaders of the two countries will discuss in detail various issues of the development of bilateral relations, the joint response to emerging challenges, including in the field of security, as well as cooperation between integrated systems.
In addition, Lukashenko and Putin “will exchange views on foreign policy issues.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out the possibility of discussing the prosecution of Viktor Babaryka, one of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition. The trial of the actor, who was intended to run in the presidential elections last August, began last week, accusing Babaryk’s Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) of accepting large-scale bribes and laundering the proceeds of crime while leading the energy Russian. Giant gazprom. for the Belarusian branch of the bank – Belgazprombank.
D. Peskov declared that Moscow would not interfere in the case of V. Babaryka.
He also assumed that Lukashenko would inform Putin of the results of a recent People’s Congress in Belarus, which the opposition called a sham.
In Belarus, mass protests have continued for more than half a year against the results of the presidential elections on August 9, which were won by the authoritarian President Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994. The opposition and Western democracies consider that the elections were rigged and the European Union has imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and members of his regime.
A Kremlin spokesman predicted that the leaders’ talks would take a long time. Peskov added that a press conference was not planned after the meeting, but that a joint statement could be issued.
In the run-up to the meeting, the media reported that Lukashenko and Putin could negotiate a new deal with Russia for $ 3 billion. Loans of USD (2.48 billion) to Minsk. Mr. Lukashenko himself denied the information.
The Belarusian leader also announced that during his visit to Russia he plans to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister of the country’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev.
Lukashenko arrived in Russia on Friday.
At the time, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Belarusian Prime Minister Raman Haluchenko discussed on Saturday the implementation of a bilateral agreement signed today on the transportation and transshipment of Belarusian oil products through Russian seaports.
Last fall, Lukashenko threatened that his country would refuse to use the Klaipeda port for exports, through which mainly potash fertilizers and petroleum products are exported, due to Lithuania’s active support of the Belarusian opposition.
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