OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 March, President Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting which agenda was focused on enhancing the national defence capacity, the rule of law and security in Belarus. Attending the meeting were around 200 top officials representing various law enforcement bodies, the Government, Presidential Administration and local authorities.

The meeting was held in an extended format, and therefore its nature was of a preventive kind. “The situation in Belarus is stable and tranquil. It is to preserve this tranquillity and security that such evens are held; and this is what today’s meeting is all about,” said the President.

It is the cohesion between the government bodies and law enforcement agencies, their ability to adapt quickly to a new environment and their effectiveness that are pivotal for ensuring an intensive economic and social growth, for enhancing the defence and law enforcing capacity of the state, for guaranteeing secure and safe living for Belarusian citizens, for making Belarus truly strong and prosperous, the President said.

Opening the meeting, the Head of State said that “some states are trying to aggravate the situation around Belarus”. In particular this is the United States and their actions with respect to the Belneftekhim companies. “I would like to make it clear right from the outset that it is not in the least fatal for Belarus. We did live before that, we do live now in this environment of their so-called sanctions and live we will,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

“Political and especially military and political situation around is changing rapidly. The USA, having broken their obligations under the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Belarus’ accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as of December 1994, imposed and later extended their sanctions against the Belneftekhim companies; by which means the USA once again showed their cynical attitude to the international law,” said the Head of State.

“We did it (moved nuclear weapons out of Belarus), and we did sign that memorandum. Back then the USA, Russia and other states pledged they would treat our country accordingly to honour that humane act, would support us in every possible way and would apply no economic or any other sanctions against us. Very little time passed and what do we see in reality? And what does Belneftekhim have to do with it? And what does democratisation have to do with it? It’s clear why this step has been taken,” said the President.