CSTO urged to provide strong barrier against West's information and psychological operations

MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) - The CSTO countries need to create a reliable barrier against fake stories, information and psychological operations conducted by unfriendly states, Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko said at the 15th plenary session of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Moscow on 5 December, BelTA has learned.

According to him, the motto of Belarus' chairmanship in the CSTO is "Through solidarity and cooperation to peace and security" and fully meets the expectations of our countries and peoples. "Next year, the main emphasis will be placed on resolving crisis situations, preventing destabilization in the CSTO countries, effectively positioning the CSTO in the system of international relations through the development of cooperation with international organizations and third countries, strengthening military-technical cooperation and building up the analytical and forecast dimensions of the CSTO," Vladimir Andreichenko. said “I am sure that there is room for the parliaments' involvement in each of these areas. This applies to the improvement and harmonization of national legislation, the use of parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen the CSTO and increase its authority in the international arena."

"The Belarusian president urged to improve the regulatory framework of the CSTO and national legal acts in order to increase the efficiency of decision-making on the use of forces and means of collective security, to ease the procedure for transit of contingents with weapons through the territories of the member states," the speaker said. “The appropriate commissions need to take a close look at these issues. We need to work harder to ensure the digital sovereignty of our countries and the CSTO as a whole. We need to put a reliable barrier against various kinds of fake stories, information and psychological operations conducted by unfriendly states. I am confident that the digital infrastructure should be based on domestic developments and competencies, thereby eliminating any possibility of external influence. Of course, this is a difficult issue, which requires time, appropriate import substitution programs and resources. But the economic security of our countries also depends on this."

The most serious attention should be paid to such topics as the fight against drugs and drug trafficking, international cooperation in the field of critical infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, biological security, Vladimir Andreichenko said. "As you know, the Belarusian president proposed to strengthen interdepartmental cooperation on these issues and hold a number of international events in Minsk. Our parliamentary expertise and the experience of the CSTO PA, I believe, will come in handy. In this sense, development of recommendations to counter terrorism at the facilities of the fuel and energy complex, which we are planning to consider today is a timely step," he stressed. “In the light of the set of practical measures to the CSTO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2021-2025, Belarusian MPs are ready to initiate a draft joint statement on the prevention of drug use among children and young people next year. In the future, this initiative can be furthered at other international venues."