MINSK, 31 October (BelTA) – The most important thing today is maintaining peace on Earth, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the opening of the Munich Security Conference Core Group Meeting in Minsk on 31 October, BelTA has learned.
“The relevance of this matter is proved by an impressive number of participants of the conference and its extensive agenda that features the most burning issues facing our region: starting from disagreements between East and West to the conflict in Ukraine. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the findings of the recent report of the Munich Security Conference suggesting that our planet is on the verge of a disaster of a global conflict. Confrontation became one of determinants of international relations, including in our region,” the Belarusian leader said.
He noted that hostilities are unfolding virtually on all the continents. “The simmering conflict but in essence the relentless war in the Donbass is taking place here, in Europe, our common home,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko also mentioned the increasing number of refugees, trade wars between the United States and China and more pronounced disagreements between the United States and the European Union, the closest allies, as well as a worrisome situation around the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the treaty on reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms.
“The abyss of mistrust between Russia and the West is broader than in the previous difficult periods of Europe's recent history. Large-scale sanctions and information wars are in full swing,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.
The president believes that great powers are losing the status of stability protectors; they cannot find common ground on any of the key issues. “The UN Security Council has turned into a battleground. At the General Debate within the framework of the current, 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, everyone spoke about their own interests, concerns, while few called on getting to the negotiating table and reversing the situation. We are running out of time very fast. There is almost no time left to resolve serious and sensitive issues of today. Not only global politics and economy, but also sport, culture and other neutral areas of international cooperation are turning into an arena for clashes between some states,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.
