MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – Being an OSCE member, Belarus advocates a regional security system that takes on board the interests of all the countries concerned, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department of the Defense Ministry – Defense Minister's Aide for International Military Cooperation, Major General Oleg Voinov said as he spoke at the OSCE High Level Military Doctrine Seminar that is taking place via videoconferencing on 9-10 February, BelTA learned from the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE.
“Oleg Voinov was a keynote speaker at the session that was meant to explore the current European security situation and assess recent operational trends. He stressed that all conceptual documents of our country are underpinned by its peaceful and multi-pronged policy. He also mentioned Belarus' contribution to strengthening international and regional security. The major general emphasized that Belarus' Military Doctrine has a provision that reads that being a member of the OSCE, Belarus stands for building a regional security system that takes into account the interests of all states and is based on trust and mutual understanding,” the delegation informed.
Oleg Voinov noted that the Republic of Belarus suggests considering the following measures to strengthen international and regional security in the face of modern challenges and threats:
a mutually respectful, equitable and inclusive dialogue on current and future security challenges and risks in the OSCE region, which would help come up with a set of measures to reduce the possibility of military threats and armed conflicts;
freezing the military buildup and defense spending, scaling down military activity, which in the long term will ease tensions in the region and help build trust between the parties concerned.
According to Oleg Voinov, it is important to embark on talks on a new conventional arms control regime in Europe appropriate to the current military and political situation, and to reaffirm the prohibition of the deployment in Europe of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers.
Belarus calls for improving the confidence and security building measures established by the Vienna Document 2011 in line with the realities of today;
restarting normal functioning of the Treaty on Open Skies;
pursuing a policy of containment with regard to the deployment on one's territory of additional military facilities and units of other states on a permanent or temporary basis.
The OSCE High Level Military Doctrine Seminar is attended by OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, United States Air Force General, commander of the United States European Command Tod D. Wolters, heads of military departments and general staffs of the armed forces of the OSCE participating States, as well as experts in the field of European security.
The OSCE High Level Military Doctrine Seminar will explore the current European security situation and assess recent operational trends, consider participating States' views on conventional deterrence, discuss, respectively, strategic competition and its impact on doctrines and how doctrines can address cooperation, highlight the role of military forces during crisis response and how the COVID-19 pandemic is shaping doctrine development.
