MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) - Peacekeeping is one of the ways to implement peace initiatives. Belarus is involved in this process and has sent officers to two missions – the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (under the auspices of the United Nations) and the monitoring mission in Ukraine (the OSCE), BelTA learned from the Defense Ministry.
“We are constantly searching for new areas, giving priority to humanitarian missions. These include humanitarian escorts, medical assistance, humanitarian demining of the area and facilities, patrolling and security of checkpoints and transport communications, deploymnet of staff officers. In August 2020, we expanded our participation in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. In addition, we sent two staff officers to the Italian Contingent. The possibility of further expansion of the mission in Lebanon is currently being considered,” the ministry said.
Belarus' participation in missions in other states is currently in the works, at the level of consultations. The ministry is studying a possibility of taking part in other contingents, ways to perform tasks, security issues and others.
In accordance with the Belarusian laws, Belarus can send only contract servicemen and exclusively on a voluntary basis to participate in peace and security maintenance missions. Moreover, military personnel cannot be sent outside Belarus if no international agreements have been concluded between states, the Defense Ministry noted.
