Opinions & Interviews

Belarus, Russia closely cooperate on international security issues

MINSK, 13 March (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia closely cooperate across a range of international security issues, Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas said during the Belarusian-Russian ministerial consultations on international security in Minsk on 13 March, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus and Russia maintain close and sincere interaction, coordination across the entire spectrum of international security issues. This fully applies to international information security”. He recalled that at the joint board meeting of the foreign ministries in November 2018, the parties agreed to step up a dialogue on this topic. Today’s representative delegations speak volumes about the importance the two countries attach to information and communication technologies and cooperation on this topic. Today we have a good opportunity to compare notes, to discuss the prospects for further cooperation. We sincerely hope that today’s meeting will add impetus to the Belarusian-Russian agreement on cooperation in ensuring international information security,” he said.

Andrei Dapkiunas added that the Security Council of Belarus held a meeting on 12 March to discuss the draft information security concept. The meeting was attended by the head of state. “Given the rapid development of information and communication technologies we understand that information is the most important strategic resource of the state and its protection is the most important part of national security,” the diplomat said. He stressed that Belarus considers the development and adoption of its concept to be an important step in regulating, at the national level, the rules of conduct in cyberspace. “This  is increasingly important given the country’s recent decree on digital economy,” the deputy minister added.

In his words, both Belarus and Russia consider the United Nations as the main forum for the development of universal approaches to international information security. Belarus is a consistent co-author of Russian initiatives in this field.

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