MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave instructions to improve the system of response to the challenges and threats to the border security of Belarus and to revise the forms of further development of the border protection agency. He made the statement at the session held on 22 January to approve the resolution on the protection of the state border in 2018, BelTA informs.
“Border security and the situation at the Belarusian border are the major priorities of the Belarusian national policy. First of all, it is connected with the international situation around Belarus,” the head of state stressed.
“You know what is going on in the European Union. You are aware of the situation at our eastern border which we recently discussed as we reviewed our visa issues with the Russian Federation. The southern border with Ukraine is under the influence of the processes that are happening, first of all, in Ukraine,” the president said. “As for the Baltic direction, we've also heard the rhetoric in those countries who describe us together with Russia almost as aggressors. There are many problems. Although these are not absolutely pressing problems requiring extraordinary response. But we must keep our powder dry and do our best to protect our borders just like we have been doing before.”
According to the president, the system of response to the challenges and threats to border security will be improved in Belarus; the forms of further development of the border protection agency will be revised. “The situation at the border will hardly improve significantly in the neat future. Therefore, we need to step up efforts to modernize our border infrastructure, create normal conditions for border service, build border outposts, apply cutting-edge technologies in border protection,” the president instructed.
“We have made much progress in optimization. We have reduced the number of auxiliary functions and jobs, and shifted the center of gravity on the border,” he added.
