MP: draft National Security Concept does not set task of threatening someone

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, called for vigilance against the background of the militaristic environment in the neighbouring countries not long ago. Prior to that, the Head of State had been presented with drafts of the updated National Security Concept and Military Doctrine. As noted by Igor Martynov, the Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly on National Security, the work over the National Security Concept has been carried out for a long time and scrupulously.

“This is a very comprehensive and global document, and it can be even placed second to the Constitution in its importance,” the MP said. “It affects all aspects of Belarusians’ life. The time has come for changes, and they are due to the present situation and the nature of modern military conflicts. As a result, the document has been updated by about 70 percent. For the first time, concepts of ‘risk’, ‘challenge’, ‘threat’, and ‘electoral sovereignty’ have been defined. Biological safety is now the ninth type of safety, and it is really necessary to protect ourselves from it. We see that the Western media are now actively scaring the world with fevers and ‘sleeping’ viruses from Siberia, which are worse than COVID.”

Mr. Martynov emphasised that it is necessary to be alert and ready for these challenges, adding that the concept of ‘a pre-emptive strike’ is also envisaged in the updated document.

“It is impossible to start a modern war or aggression all of a sudden, as in 1941,” Mr. Martynov said. “This will be prevented by satellites, intelligence, and information leaks on the Internet. Nowadays, a hot phase is always preceded by a political and economic blockade. If we see that the situation is developing towards it, then we will not wait until its consequences but strike first – so that nobody wishes to take such steps against us. Actually, this task is not at the forefront, we are not going to threaten anyone, as the Head of State has said more than once. The President is the guarantor of our security. Let me remind you that, speaking at the BelGee plant recently, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “Peace costs much, and it is worth paying for. Actually, you don't have to worry. We, our people and our state, have never been as much protected as we are now. It will all depend on us how the situation will develop if, God forbid, a war breaks out. The system has been arranged, we have Armed Forces, a mobilisation reserve, territorial defence, and people's militia. Everything is in its place. Weapons and ammunition have been distributed and stored. We have enough of everything at this stage.”