Lukashenka: “Army must be prepared for modern wars. We won’t spare money”
- 15.12.2008, 13:31
Alyaksandr Lukashenka believes that only Belarus’ participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and creation of a common defense space would ensure national security.
“Solving problems of national security problems is planned to be done in different directions. The most important of them is participation in international security systems, and primarily in the CSTO, as well as creation of the common defense space with Russia,” Lukashenka said in Minsk at the session of the Security Council of the country.
“And undoubtedly, independent solving of the country’s defense problems [is important],” the head of the state added. As said by him, ways, methods and consequence of such problems’ solution is reflected in the draft Defense plan which is to be discussed today. “The Concept of the Military Forces construction and development until 2020 should be considered as well,” A. Lukashenka noted.
“We should think today how our army will look like in some ten or twelve years. The process of the construction and development of the Armed Forces should be thoroughly thought over and planned,” the president said.
A. Lukashenka underlined that “we won’t spare money for the defence of the country today, but all actions, every ruble should be figured out in advance.” The Belarusian leader has also said that “We should prepare the army to modern wars, we should look into the future”. Besides, A. Lukashenka noted that “conditions of political, informational character should be worked on, so that the state won’t face even a threat of aggression”.
Among the external conditions, as said by the leader of the state, the most important thing is “changed military, political and strategic situation in Europe and in the world”. “The international law cannot protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state that does not have sufficient capabilities to resist a possible aggression. Warfare is unofficially acknowledged by some states as an acceptable instrument of their foreign policies,” the president said with sorrow.
In this connection, he said, “we should carry out a policy coherent policy to enhance the prestige of the country in the international arena. Therefore, it is important that Belarus should concentrate, on the one hand, on the measures to strengthen the Armed Forces and, on the other hand, should actively advocate peaceful positions and constructive initiatives.”
In this connection, to his mind, Belarus remains committed to the goals and ideas of the universal nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technology. Belarus has been expanding its participation in international and regional international security and arms control organizations. Belarus advocates the new architecture of European security taking into account the interests of the state, added the president.