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Plans to expand Belarus’ Security Council membership

MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) – The list of permanent members of the Security Council may be expanded. State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich made the statement after meeting with the head of state on 25 February, BelTA has learned.

The official said: “Considering today’s situation, it was suggested to the president that the defense minister, the internal affairs minister, and the chairman of the State Security Committee should be added to the list of permanent members of the Security Council.” In his words, the relevant presidential decree will be prepared and forwarded for consideration of the head of state soon.

Aleksandr Volfovich noted that the experience of operation of similar agencies in other countries in the post-Soviet space had been examined, including the work of similar agencies in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. Tasks and functions are similar everywhere: the protection of national interests. But the structure of the security councils differs. For instance, Russia’s Security Council includes the Moscow mayor and the St Petersburg governor as well as plenipotentiary representatives of the head of state in the regions. “We don’t need that at present,” the official added.

Belarus’ Security Council includes the head of state, who is simultaneously the chairman of the council and permanent members of the council. At present those are the prime minister, heads of the lower chamber and the upper chamber of the parliament, the head of the Belarus President Administration, and the state secretary of the Security Council.

Due to their jobs the defense minister, the chief of the General Staff – first deputy defense minister, the internal affairs minister, the minister of foreign affairs, the finance minister, the heads of the State Security Committee and the State Control Committee, the prosecutor general, and the chairperson of the Investigative Committee are also members of the Security Council.

Other government officials can be appointed members of the Security Council by the head of state upon recommendations of the state secretary of the Security Council.

BelTA reported earlier that State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich delivered his report to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 25 February. During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko stated it is necessary to streamline and even reorganize some aspects of the work of the Security Council. “We need to improve certain documents regarding the operation of the Security Council. On the example of Russia, Kazakhstan and other close states I would like to know how they ensure the operation of the Security Council,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus used the best practices of security councils in those countries in the past. “Nevertheless, in our conditions we need to step up efforts to revise and streamline the operation of the Security Council,” the president said. “The Security Council should convene regularly. It should focus on fundamental issues of security and defense of our state. It was mentioned that security involves many things today. It includes food security, economic security in general, military threats. Therefore, we need to address a wide range of issues.”

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