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Belarus urges OSCE countries to restore military contacts

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MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – It is necessary to restore military contacts and communications because their cessation has sharply increased the risk of errors, dangerous incidents, misperceptions, and false conclusions. Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sekreta made the statement at the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC) held at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna on 17-18 June, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It is necessary to restore military contacts and communications. Because of their cessation the risk of errors, dangerous incidents, misperceptions, and false conclusions has drastically increased. It is necessary to return to transparency mechanisms and contacts at any acceptable level, up to tactical interaction in border areas,” the deputy minister of foreign affairs emphasized.

“We have to convince each other that no one is going to attack each other. We have to relearn to hear each other,” he continued.

Igor Sekreta drew attention to the fact that the principle of equal and indivisible security should not be just a slogan. It must have a reliable operational basis, and it is towards its creation that the efforts of the OSCE countries should be directed.

In his opinion, the parties have a chance to establish peace in the region. “Either we continue building new walls and minefields, or we start building a space of cooperation where the security of one is not achieved at the expense of the security of another. A space where the legitimate interests of all states are respected. A space where people talk even when they disagree with each other,” Igor Sekreta stated. “Belarus chooses exactly this path. The path of peace. The path of dialogue. The path of responsibility. And we invite everyone who is ready to think about the peaceful future of Europe to join this path.”

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