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5 Jul 2017

Lukashenko highlights serious crisis of European security architecture

Lukashenko highlights serious crisis of European security architectureMINSK, 5 July (BelTA) – We are observing a serious systemic crisis of the European security architecture, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the plenary meeting dedicated to the formal opening of the 26th OSCE PA annual session in Minsk on 5 July, BelTA has learned.

“I think we can say without exaggeration that the European security architecture has never faced such a serious systemic crisis since the end of the Cold War, and there are no visible signs of willingness to look for a compromise,” the Belarusian head of state said.

He noted that, paradoxically, the overall interest in economic integration exists alongside with new manifestations of dissociation, trade restrictions and sanctions. “Today the situation in the OSCE can be described as a permanent collision of interests. There is a lack of understanding on a wide range of crucial issues. We can see recurring geopolitical fissures. Frozen conflicts are escalating or smoldering. Tensions in the military dimension are escalating in the implicit or explicit way, and military expenses are on the rise,” the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted with regret that the parties fail to find common approaches and consolidate efforts in the fight against terrorism, uncontrolled migration and cybercrime.

The president also emphasized that Belarus has always prioritized active participation in the OSCE. “I am convinced that the OSCE can be used for establishing dialogue between various economic integration associations, first of all, between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as between the European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which is gaining momentum now,” the head of state remarked. “The OSCE’s priorities include economic connectivity, the complementarity of economies. We are especially interested in such rapprochement, we call it ‘integration of integrations’.”

“Belarus is in favor of building a fair, predictable and reliable trade and economic architecture in Europe and in the Euro-Atlantic space,” the president said.

He also remarked that Belarus has always been an example of peace and tolerance. Today the country is viewed as a pole of stability in the European region, and this factor will be growing more pronounced, the president is convinced.

“Minsk has become a recognized venue for promoting settlement in our neighboring Ukraine. We fully support the activities of the trilateral contact group and the special monitoring mission of the OSCE in Ukraine. We will continue doing our best to restore peace in this state,” the Belarusian leader said. “We will definitely act within the framework of the agreements, first of all, those of Russia and Ukraine, on these issues. We are not going to run ahead of anyone. We will definitely fulfill the agreements reached between the conflicting parties and the countries which are donors of stability in the Ukrainian state.”

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