Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 8 December (BelTA) – NATO has no reasons not to cooperate with Belarus or to stop partnership with the country. The statement was made by Tanya Hartman, a representative of the NATO Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, during the international seminar held in Minsk on 8 December to discuss international security and NATO in the year 2015, BelTA has learned.

Tanya Hartman mentioned the importance of advancing partnership relations between NATO and Belarus. Belarus’ great contribution to regional security was mentioned during the seminar.

The NATO representative underlined that the international situation has drastically changed recently and many new threats have emerged. “The international situation necessitates new steps to ensure security. We face challenges, including those poised by terrorist groups. We should modernize responses to challenges and pay more attention to defense capabilities,” stressed Tanya Hartman.

The NATO officer also noted that the policy of deterrence is not a relic of the cold war, it is still vital today. “Deterrence can be a serious factor in modern security matters. It is necessary to make deterrence more effective,” stressed Tanya Hartman. She also quoted the NATO secretary general, who said that in modern conditions European security rules are outdated and should be modernized.

The international seminar has been organized by the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Center in association with the International Relations Department of the Belarusian State University with assistance of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division.