MINSK, 14 August (BelTA) - Belarus has always been in favor of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the UN Valentin Rybakov said at the UN Security Council meeting convened by Russia on the topic “Crimes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Nationalist Battalions” on 13 August, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian diplomat pointed out: “On 9 August, a group of unmanned aerial vehicles, launched from the territory of Ukraine, violated the Belarusian airspace and were shot down by the air defense forces of our country.”
He stressed: “This is an extremely serious incident, which can lead to a radical escalation of the situation, and it is a very dangerous attempt to expand the zone of the current conflict in our region. There is an attempt to get Belarus, which has always been in favor of resolving the crisis and stopping the bloodshed in the region, involved in the conflict.”
Valentin Rybakov added: “On 10 August, the day after the incident, the Belarusian Defense Ministry held a briefing to provide detailed information regarding the events that had taken place a day before. A minute by minute timeline of the Belarusian airspace violation and the destruction of the Ukrainian drones was presented.”
“Following the incident the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus has ordered to boost troops at the border with a view to responding to any possible provocations,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
He continued: “Military units, special operations forces, ground forces, missile forces, aviation, including Iskander systems have received the appropriate task. The defense ministry said that Belarus would closely monitor the situation to be ready to respond to any changes in the situation.”
“In connection with the incident the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine was summoned to the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 10 August. The Ukrainian diplomat was lodged a strong protest and handed over a note over the violation of the border of the Republic of Belarus by a group of unmanned aerial vehicles launched from the territory of Ukraine. Belarus demanded to take exhaustive measures to exclude similar incidents in the future, which could lead to further escalation of the situation in the region,” the Belarus’ permanent representative to the UN said.
He informed: “The Ukrainian side has been warned that should such provocations repeat, the Belarusian side reserves the right to take retaliatory steps to protect its territory.”
“It was emphasized that if the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Belarus was unable to influence the prevention of such provocations, the Belarusian side would question the expediency of its continued presence in Minsk.
“It was especially pointed out that if the diplomatic mission of Ukraine in Belarus is unable to influence the prevention of such provocations, the Belarusian side will question the necessity of its continued diplomatic presence in Minsk,” Valentin Rybakov said.
The Belarusian diplomat pointed out: “On 9 August, a group of unmanned aerial vehicles, launched from the territory of Ukraine, violated the Belarusian airspace and were shot down by the air defense forces of our country.”
He stressed: “This is an extremely serious incident, which can lead to a radical escalation of the situation, and it is a very dangerous attempt to expand the zone of the current conflict in our region. There is an attempt to get Belarus, which has always been in favor of resolving the crisis and stopping the bloodshed in the region, involved in the conflict.”
Valentin Rybakov added: “On 10 August, the day after the incident, the Belarusian Defense Ministry held a briefing to provide detailed information regarding the events that had taken place a day before. A minute by minute timeline of the Belarusian airspace violation and the destruction of the Ukrainian drones was presented.”
“Following the incident the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus has ordered to boost troops at the border with a view to responding to any possible provocations,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
He continued: “Military units, special operations forces, ground forces, missile forces, aviation, including Iskander systems have received the appropriate task. The defense ministry said that Belarus would closely monitor the situation to be ready to respond to any changes in the situation.”
“In connection with the incident the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine was summoned to the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 10 August. The Ukrainian diplomat was lodged a strong protest and handed over a note over the violation of the border of the Republic of Belarus by a group of unmanned aerial vehicles launched from the territory of Ukraine. Belarus demanded to take exhaustive measures to exclude similar incidents in the future, which could lead to further escalation of the situation in the region,” the Belarus’ permanent representative to the UN said.
He informed: “The Ukrainian side has been warned that should such provocations repeat, the Belarusian side reserves the right to take retaliatory steps to protect its territory.”
“It was emphasized that if the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Belarus was unable to influence the prevention of such provocations, the Belarusian side would question the expediency of its continued presence in Minsk.
“It was especially pointed out that if the diplomatic mission of Ukraine in Belarus is unable to influence the prevention of such provocations, the Belarusian side will question the necessity of its continued diplomatic presence in Minsk,” Valentin Rybakov said.
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