CSTO Alarmed By NATO Buildup Near Belarusian Border

Belarusian Telegraph Agency
March 13, 2014

NATO’s recon activities near Belarus’ border spotted

MOSCOW: The CSTO has noticed NATO’s reconnaissance activity near Belarusian borders, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told media on 13 March following the parliamentary hearing at Russia’s State Duma, BelTA has learnt.

“We cannot ignore the fact that NATO’s air group is being consolidated near Belarusian borders,” Nikolai Bordyuzha said.

He noted that the CSTO is not preparing any measures to respond to Ukraine's crisis. “We do not consider Russia a participant of the conflict and are not preparing any collective measures to respond to what is happening in the internal conflict in Ukraine,” said the CSTO Secretary General.

“Of course we are monitoring the situation but we think that it is premature to come up with any measures within the framework of the CSTO,” Nikolai Bordyuzha added.

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Belarusian Telegraph Agency
March 13, 2014

MP: NATO drills give Belarus grounds for adequate response

MINSK: Reinforcement of the NATO forces near the borders of Belarus gives our country grounds for adequate measures, Vasily Alekseyenko, a member of the Permanent Commission for National Security of the House of Representatives, told media on 13 March, BelTA learned.

The exercise held near the Belarusian borders with Poland and Lithuania, gives Belarus grounds for adequate measures to ensure security of the state. “We need to clearly analyze the situation and make task-oriented, smart decisions,” the MP said, adding that the professional Armed Forces, interior and border troops, the Emergencies Ministry can defend the interests of the country, both outside and inside.

Belarus completed the first phase of the snap inspection of combat readiness of the Armed Forces and, as President Alexander Lukashenko said at the recent meeting of the Security Council, it is time to conduct the second phase of the inspection and to deploy, if necessary, additional forces to conduct exercises like the ones in the territory of Poland.

“Government cannot sit by. Time has shown that one who plays the waiting game is late. We are doing the right thing because we protect the independence and security of our stat),” said the MP.

The meeting of the Security Council discussed, among other things, the decision of NATO to build up together with the Americans the group of the air force in Poland and Lithuania near the Belarusian borders. “They are redeploying the air forces from Italy, Great Britain. What would they do at the borders of Belarus? The alliance, in a sense, is trying to show their level of expertise. Therefore, Belarus is implementing appropriate actions,” said Vasily Alekseyenko.

The inspection of the Belarus Armed Forces should not cause alarm among the population because the exercises are aimed at improving the professionalism of the Armed Forces and other components of the security forces in ensuring the security of the state. “This is normal for military people. Exercises help ensure the primary mission, enshrined in the Constitution, and to perform the sacred duty of every citizen of Belarus. There is nothing for the people to worry about,” the MP said.

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Belarusian Telegraph Agency
March 13, 2014

MP: Belarus’ actions amid NATO reinforcement on its borders are lawful

MINSK: Belarus’ response to the reinforcement of NATO forces near the Belarusian borders is absolutely lawful, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for International Affairs of the House of Representatives of Belarus Nikolai Samoseiko told reporters on 13 March, BelTA has learnt.

The MP commented on the session of the Security Council that took place on 12 March. At that session Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus would suggest deploying additionally up to 15 Russian aircraft on its territory in the context of NATO reinforcement. “The decision was made in response to the buildup of the military capacity near our borders, and this decision does not contradict the legal framework, in particular, the Union State Treaty of Belarus and Russia,” Nikolai Samoseiko said.

The MP emphasized that Belarus and Russia “are interested in the stabilization of the situation in Ukraine as soon as possible, in the adoption of balanced decisions in the interests of the nations with utmost respect for the supremacy of the law”.

“We cannot but worry about the situation in Ukraine. The people of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine were made allies by the history, neighbors by the geography and partners by the economy. Therefore, we are destined to cooperate and we are interested in the soonest settlement of the political crisis there,” Nikolai Samoseiko added.

The Belarusian head of state had said earlier that the crisis had been caused by the economic collapse and corruption. “The greatest achievement of Belarus is that we have prevented this from happening; we keep the situation under control. Two things are essential for the successful operation of each state: independence and well-being of people,” the MP concluded.