Clouds are gathering
- 18.03.2008, 16:19
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has held a consultation on the issues of strengthening the defense capability, legal order and security of the country. At the meeting with members of power ministries he once again brought up the topic of US sanctions against the Belarusian regime. As said by the Belarusian ruler, the US “has demonstrated their cynical attitude towards the international laws, by imposing and expanding sanctions against enterprises of Belneftekhim concern”.
“The US breached their commitments under the memorandum and guarantees of security connected with Belarus’ joining the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty, imposed, and later expanded sanctions against Belneftekhim enterprises. Thus the US has once again demonstrated their cynical attitude towards the international law,” Lukashenka noted.
The Belarusian ruler reminded that once the Belarusian government took a decision to withdraw nuclear weapons from the territory of Belarus. “We have done that, we signed a memorandum, and then the US, Russia and other states assured us that they would support our country for this humane move, and would never use any economic measures against us. And what do we see in reality? What bearing does Belneftekhim have, what bearing does democratization have to this?” Lukashenka said.
He stressed however: “It is absolutely non-lethal for the country”. We lived before, and we are living now in the conditions of their sanctions, and we shall live. But the matter is, the tension is being heated up around the country now,” the Belarusian president said.
About treat of US ABM systems in Europe
Lukashenka said deployment of ABM systems in Europe is a threat for the national security of the country, and the precedent in Kosovo poses a threat of boundary revision.
“In fact the issue of deploying elements of the US ABM system has been solved, which undermines strategic stability,” he said.
As said by the leader of the state, “the precedent with declaring Kosovo’s independence has vividly demonstrated double standards of many states”. “A new real threat of unilateral boundary revision has appeared, political map of Europe’s changes, a danger of separatism becomes relevant for many countries,” A. Lukashenka said.
As said by him, “all this leads to changes in the modern architecture of the European security”. In the near future, Lukashenka believes, “we could face a new, tenser international situation around Belarus, which would demand adequate response”. “Are our state agencies ready for the work in such difficult conditions? Would they be able to ensure peaceful progressive advance of the country?” the president asked, addressing representatives of all of Belarusian me power ministries.