State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich took part in an annual conference of the secretaries of security councils of the CIS states in Moscow on 5 November. After the meeting he talked to reporters about what topics the Belarusian delegation had touched upon during the meeting, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Volfovich said: “The conference of the secretaries of security councils of the CIS states has become a traditional event. It is aimed primarily at enhancing interaction on the most significant matters on the regional agenda and at ensuring stability in the CIS space.”
In his words, participants of the meeting presented their vision of the international agenda, modern challenges and threats in ensuring security. “The Belarusian delegation was no exception. We presented our vision of the international agenda, of the geopolitical situation that is evolving around the globe today, of the challenges and threats. Particularly those at the western border of the Union State. We informed all participants about the situation evolving at the western borders of the Union State [of Belarus and Russia] today. And we drew attention to the fact that what is going on in the Eastern Europe collective security region isn’t happening at the western border of Belarus and Russia. It is happening at the western border of the Union State. And all the threats originating from that side may directly and indirectly affect the security of the other CIS states,” the state secretary stressed.
“The world is not getting more stable. New methods and forms of warfare are getting born today. Well-known threats are transforming: terrorism, extremism, weapons smuggling, slave trade, trade in drugs, illegal migration, cyber incidents, which acquire new traits. Threats relating to artificial intelligence are appearing,” he explained.
Close attention was paid to matters of humanitarian and educational nature during the conference. “It was noted that it may be a good idea to reinstitute the old, Soviet education system that has raised many scientists and patriots of their countries. We have forgotten the Soviet school in a rush to embrace the Bologna system. We’ve acquired nothing good as a result. In Belarus we’ve been talking about it for a long time and we have learned certain lessons. Bur our partners in the CIS started talking about it today, too,” Aleksandr Volfovich said.
The state secretary drew attention of the colleagues from the CIS states to the initiatives the Belarusian president put forward during the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, in particular, the prohibition of sanctions against food and medications, the protection of international critical infrastructure, further promotion of the Eurasian Charter of Multipolarity and Diversity in the 21st Century.
Aleksandr Volfovich held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference. As he met with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu it was noted that the cooperation develops in a fruitful manner, demonstrates good development pace, particularly with regard to the legal base. “Over the last year Belarus and Russia have signed documents of strategic significance such as the Security Concept of the Union State and a document of strategic deterrence – the Treaty on Security Guarantees. Several consultations have already been held as part of the oversight over the realization of provisions of this treaty. It is a comprehensive treaty that affects efforts to ensure security and stability primarily of Belarus because it is the western component of the Union State. We stand at its western border,” the state secretary stressed.
A plan on cooperation between the State Secretariat of the Security Council of Belarus and the office of the Security Council of Russia for 2026-2027 was also signed.