Events

MINSK, 24 May (BelTA) – Economic security is one of the most important security components in Belarus, Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko said at the international forum “Eastern Europe: In Search of Security for All” on 24 May, BelTA has learned.

“Economic security has always been one of key components of Belarus’ security. This component should underpin everything. Economic growth will secure jobs and consequently some earnings for people to meet their needs and provide for their families. This will help maintain peace. We have been consistently promoting such an approach at all levels, including the OSCE,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

According to the President, many countries underestimate the role of multi-level integration projects while trying to achieve peaceful and sustainable development of the region against the backdrop of an increasing geopolitical confrontation.

Located at the junction of the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, Belarus wants the two unions to come closer. It is necessary to move from abstract talks to specific joint action. There is a tremendous amount of areas of common interest, like economy, power engineering, environment, humanitarian cooperation, transport, logistics, and the war on illegal migration, transnational crime, drug abuse, human trafficking, just to name a few, the head of state noted.

They can serve as a springboard for gradual rapprochement of the two biggest integration associations and for boosting mutual trust, Alexander Lukashenko is convinced. “We believe that this will greatly benefit the entire continent – from the Atlantic to the Pacific,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

“There should not be new dividing lines. Protracted conflicts can be resolved by means of multilateral economic cooperation. This logic should be set against the idea that the West and East do not need each other,” the president noted.

The head of state underlined that nations need to learn again to listen to and hear each other, and to be ready for reasonable compromises. “I am talking about Russian, European, American and Chinese partners, about big and small countries, close and distant neighbors,” the Belarusian leader added.