News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 17 July (BelTA) - The importance of diplomacy has significantly increased amid the current crisis in international relations, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with the CSTO ministers of foreign affairs on 17 July, BelTA has learned.

“In the current crisis of international relations the importance of diplomacy is increasing significantly. It is the diplomats who must demonstrate their ability and eliminate the slightest chance of the disputable matters being resolved by military means,” the head of state noted.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, the major goal of diplomacy is to create the necessary conditions for bringing the positions of all stakeholders together and elaborating coordinated approaches. “Only with the consolidation of efforts it is possible to fight global challenges and threats. Therefore, the priority of Belarus’ presidency in the CSTO is to strengthen the CSTO authority in the international arena,” the Belarusian leader said.

In his words, a multifunctional structure has been developed in the CSTO. It has all necessary instruments to efficiently counteract modern challenges and threats. “We cannot feel satisfied with what we have achieved so far. The global situation is alarming. We need to pay close attention to the security of our states, both military and political,” the president said.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, the geography and areas of conflicts of interests between certain countries and entire coalitions are expanding, while universally acknowledged instruments of maintaining international peace and security are becoming weaker. “As a result, the attempts of disrupting the balance of powers are multiplying,” said the head of state.

The president said that not long ago he met with the CSTO defense ministers and secretaries of the security councils: “We outlined the areas we need to focus our attention in order to strengthen the military component of the organization, consolidate law-enforcement measures in counteracting the biggest present-day challenges, which include terrorism, drugs trafficking, illegal migration, trafficking in persons, and cybercrime.”