Belarusian regime becomes more oriented to Russia with talks about dialogue with West

• 4.03.2009, 14:29

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev signed a law on military and technical aid to state members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in case of “threats of aggression or an act of aggression”.

According to the protocol, “this aid will be rendered to support and recover readiness of the armed forces of the country (countries) in case of a threat of an act of aggression, or when a party uses its right for individual or collective self-defence according to article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, when a party has become an object of terroristic acts or other threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity,” ITAR-TASS reports.

Military and technical aid is rendered on a grant or beneficial basis.

The state, which received this aid, doesn’t have a right to re-export or sell it to other states.

The protocol was signed in Dushanbe on October 6, 2007 by heads of the CSTO member states – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The protocol is in effect during the term of the Collective Security Treaty of May 15, 1992.

The law was adopted by the State Duma on February 13, 2009 and approved by the council of the Federation on February 20, 2009.

Comment of www.charter97.org: With talks about “liberalization” and a dialogue with the West, the Belarusian regime becomes more dependent on Russia in the military sphere. Turn attention that the military aid will be rendered “in case of an act of aggression or when a party has become an object of terroristic acts or other threats to sovereignty”. For example, if something like a blast in Minsk on the official Independence Day happens, Russia can bring troops into the country.