Yuri Ambrazevich
MINSK, 17 April (BelTA) – Belarus has been and remains a supporter of arms control, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Ambrazevich said, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus has been and remains committed to arms control and accordingly, to confidence-building and transparency measures,” the deputy minister noted.
Members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the eighth convocation adopted the bill “On the suspension of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe” at the meeting of their first session. The bill was presented in the Oval Hall by Yuri Ambrazevich.
“The bill of the Republic of Belarus “On the suspension of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe” was developed at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The bill was approved by the State Secretariat of the Security Council, the Defense Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Justice Ministry, and was discussed by the Council of Ministers. The head of state agreed on the introduction of this bill to the House of Representatives,” said Yuri Ambrazevich.
The CFE Treaty established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment (tanks, armored combat vehicles, artillery pieces, attack helicopters and combat aircraft), as well as mechanisms for verifying compliance with obligations, information exchange and inspection activities. “The treaty was one of the key agreements in the field of conventional arms control in Europe and the cornerstone of European security. It played a landmark role in reducing military confrontation and creating a new security architecture on the European continent in the post-Cold War period through unprecedented reductions in arms, equipment and personnel,” the deputy minister noted. “Belarus conscientiously and fully fulfilled its obligations under the CFE Treaty. After the treaty entered into force, we destroyed more than 3,000 units of conventional weapons and equipment - this was our significant contribution to strengthening pan-European security and the disarmament process.”
“On 7 November 2023, the North Atlantic Council of NATO announced that the Allied States Parties intended to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty. By now, the CFE Treaty has been suspended by 21 out of 22 NATO member countries, as well as Georgia and Moldova. Suspension of the CFE Treaty by NATO states and their allies also means the de facto termination of the operation of the treaty,” added Yuri Ambrazevich. “In order to ensure national security and to respond to the decision of NATO member countries, the head of state upheld the proposal to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe by the Republic of Belarus. In practical terms, this means suspending the provision of information on conventional weapons and equipment to other parties to the treaty, suspending inspections to check compliance with the quantitative restrictions on conventional weapons and equipment established by the provisions of the document. We will also not be obliged to adhere to these quantitative restrictions.”
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