Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to deploy its peacekeepers to any region of the world providing several conditions are in place, Belarus Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov, BelTA has learned.

Andrey Ravkov recalled that the 103rd Guards Airborne Brigade has a 100-strong peacekeeping unit. “This unit is ready to perform tasks in any region of the world. This is not a problem. Yet, several conditions must be in place for Belarus to deploy its peacekeeping forces,” the minister said. They include the mandate from the UN Security Council, the consent of a country that contributes peacekeeping troops and a host state. In Belarus such decisions are taken by the head of state. The written consent of servicemen is also needed. “When all these conditions are met, we will be ready to perform the task,” the minister said.

As it was reported, following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in November 2017, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said that Belarus was ready to send a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine to help restore peace in the country. He recalled that in an interview with Euronews back in 2014, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus was ready to deploy a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine for the sake of restoring peace and stability in the country. “We are ready to deploy peacekeepers to carry out peacekeeping tasks, if it is acceptable for all the parties concerned,” the minister said back then.