Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 6 December (BelTA) – Resolving the conflict in Ukraine is the key matter of security in Europe. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the relevant statement at the 25^th session of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan, the ministry’s press service told BelTA.

Vladimir Makei said: “Some even go as far as to say that [Ukraine’s] Donbass is a matter of political order in Europe. Unfortunately, the latest events cause serious concern. Due to the incident in the Kerch Strait we’ve come dangerously close to a full-blown conflict. It is the red line. The point of no return is beyond it.”

“We know very well from history that such incidents led to world wars in the past,” added Vladimir Makei.

“Belarus will continue putting maximum effort into helping resolve the crisis, including by offering a venue to the trilateral contact group on Ukraine in Minsk. We are ready to constructively get involved in all the serious scenarios for resolving this conflict,” said Vladimir Makei.

As far as military politics is concerned, Belarus supports the inventorying of the main intergovernmental contradictions and the detection of tension areas and points, which may spill over into open armed warfare. Belarus also supports efforts to improve military transparency by means of signaling each other about potential conflicts. Belarus supports the restoration of official and unofficial channels of communication between militaries. Belarus supports studying the experience of application of regional and local trust and security-building measures.

Vladimir Makei made it clear that Belarus is ready to continue working in good faith to reduce threats of military confrontation, create conditions for restoring trust in Europe. “We believe it is the best response to the so-called security dilemma in the OSCE region, when some member states act to improve their own security but in truth they worsen everyone’s security,” said Vladimir Makei.