News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 18 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko heard out a report from State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Alexander Mezhuyev on 18 August. The meeting focused on the operation of Belarusian power-wielding and law enforcement agencies, which are coordinated by the State Secretariat of the Security Council, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

Alexander Lukashenko said he would like the State Secretariat of the Security Council to step up efforts. “I’ve already talked about the work of the State Secretariat of the Security Council in public. But it doesn’t mean that we have had that talk and no more efforts to improve the work are required. It is a well-established agency that has existed for 20 years. It is time to move forward more decisively without any fear of making some more progressive decisions and putting forth proposals”.

“Power-wielding and law enforcement agencies operate well. There is no need to resent or criticize them but still negative facts are present in sufficient amounts,” believes the President.

Alexander Lukashenko was also concerned about individual matters regarding discipline, particularly among officers and even generals of the Defense Ministry. “There are many facts like that. You probably get the reports, too. I would like them to know that I am aware of these facts,” stressed the head of state.

The President also touched upon the operation of the State Security Committee. In particular, Alexander Lukashenko noted: “It is time to accept some new forms and methods of work out of their own experience”.

The President was extremely displeased with the operation of the so-called government communication service. “I will not tolerate the poor quality of phone calls to foreign heads of state,” noted Alexander Lukashenko.

Other topical matters were also discussed. The President was particularly interested in the situation at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border: “Is everything okay over there or are there some problems?”

Alexander Lukashenko warned that the Belarusian border service should work in a way to prevent any justified complaints from the Ukrainian side. “We promised to them even before the presidential election that we will act decently with regard to Ukraine and we continue doing so. Neither Russia nor anyone else has asked us to raise tensions at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and we don’t need these tensions. I would like to hear your report regarding the situation over there taking into account my instructions. We don’t hide the fact that we certainly keep an eye on the border due to the events going on over there”. The head of state said he believes that the Belarusian side should deal with all the emerging problems without violating the standing agreement with the Ukrainian side.

The President said he would like Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus Leonid Maltsev to constantly stay in touch with his Ukrainian counterpart. “By the way, we have made the relevant agreement with President Poroshenko: all the agencies, including power-wielding ones, should stay constantly in touch. If there are any concerns, they must be addressed to prevent them from raising concerns in the general public and mass media”.

The head of state was informed that all his instructions regarding the situation at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border were being fulfilled. In particular, interaction and contacts between all the power-wielding agencies of the two countries have been established, information is being constantly shared. The State Border Committee in association with the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry works smoothly to fulfill the Belarus president’s instructions to reinforce the southern part of the state border.

Apart from that, the President was interested in the state of affairs at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border in view of the permission for Ukrainian citizens, who live near the border, to collect mushrooms and berries in Belarusian forests. The head of state was told that Belarus had opened seasonal border checkpoints to Ukrainian citizens, with all the necessary security measures taken. The situation is calm and normal and is being closely monitored.