Belarus' KGB chief: USA, Europe are creating points of tension in and around the CIS

MINSK, 1 June (BelTA) – The USA and its European satellites are creating points of tension in and around the CIS, Chairman of the State Security Committee (KGB) of Belarus Ivan Tertel said at the 52nd meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services in Minsk on 1 June, BelTA has learned.

On behalf of Belarusian security agencies, the KGB chief welcomed the participants of the meeting in the Minsk hero city. “Today's event is taking place amidst an unprecedented deterioration of the military and political situation, degradation of the system of international organizations. These organizations have already become an instrument used by the collective West to put pressure of governments they do not like,” said Ivan Tertel.

According to him, the United States and its European satellites are trying to thwart integration processes in the CIS space, to drive a wedge between the CIS states, to frustrate allied relations and to create points of tension in the CIS space and around it.

“These processes are taking place amidst an increase in global and regional militarization. The leadership of the NATO countries is taking practical steps to expand the alliance eastwards and to build up the offensive capabilities of the bloc. To situation is further destabilized by the determination of Washington and European capitals to keep the situation on the boil by providing financial and military support to Kiev. This creates preconditions for the penetration of combatants, weapons and explosives from the combat zone into the territory of the CIS,” Ivan Tertel noted.

According to him, international terrorist organizations are stepping up their activities in Afghanistan: “There are still high risks that terrorism and radical ideology will spill over to the CIS countries. The problems of drug and weapons smuggling have not gone away, either.”