By Vladimir Khromov
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has demanded that threats and challenges to border security be tackled effectively. He stresses, “Anti-Belarusian sanctions by the West have caused provocation along the border, aggravating challenges associated with border protection, bringing the need for special attention and serious analysis of the current system. The latest violations of the state border have led to a need for strict personnel decisions. I have given appropriate instructions to improve the security of the border and inter-agency co-ordination in this area.”
Mr. Lukashenko is eager to assess the success of measures to improve Border Agency efficiency but emphasises that everyone can do their part to aid national security. He has asked state agencies to report regularly on their strategies used to counter emerging threats, with particular reference to our airspace, saying, “Which challenges remain and what solutions do we have?”
Mr. Lukashenko adds, “You know what the state border means to me, as a former border guard. My personal relationship with the Border Agency and military men in green caps is based on this. I’ve heard rumours that I’m on ill-terms with the present head of the Border Agency but it’s nonsense.”
Meeting recently with the Chairman of the State Border Committee, the President stressed that he has his ear at all times, as he well knows. He asserted, “Colonel Alexander Boechko, like all previous heads of the Border Agency, and those sitting around this table, ministers and high officials, have the same direct access to the President. I want all border guards, who protect and defend our country, to hear this. All speculation should end, leaving our border guards to do their job, proudly defending the peace of the Belarusian people, along every metre of the border. This is our daily task, and people should be assured that we’ll fulfil it,” said Mr. Lukashenko.
Mr. Boechko has told reporters that the head of state has approved the programme for the protection of the state borders of Belarus in 2013, which is focused on tackling external challenges, using a number of new approaches and means. “Looking at past violations of the state border, the head of state has set specific tasks to remove these shortcomings in 2013,” Mr. Boechko notes. He underlines that the Border Agency will be working to fulfil the new programme, protecting the economic interests of the country.
According to Mr. Boechko, 14 people involved in organising or facilitating illegal migration have been arrested, as have 318 people who have entered the country illegally. Over 9,000 potential illegal immigrants have been identified, with the Polish, Ukrainian and Lithuanian borders seeing the greatest number of violations.
Four major syndicates involved in smuggling goods have been terminated, alongside nine drug smuggling organisations. The law enforcement authorities of Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia have worked together, detaining about 100kg of drugs and more than 6kg of psychotropic substances. In addition, 142 weapons, nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition and 3.5kg of explosives have been withdrawn.
Meanwhile, our borders are processing a greater number of passenger vehicles: over 29 million people last year. The number of trucks also rose, with about 10 million crossing the border.
