Posted: 20.02.2023 17:16:00

Volfovich: National Security Concept almost 70 percent updated

Belarus’ National Security Concept has been updated by more than 70 percent – as informed by the State Secretary of the Security Council, Aleksandr Volfovich, following today’s meeting with the President

Photo: www.president.gov.by

“In line with the President’s instructions, a large-scale work was organised, and the concept has been updated by more than 70 percent,” Mr. Volfovich stressed. “The relevance of updating the document that has been in force for more than 12 years is due to the changes observed in the global military and political situation that have developed over this period, as well as the struggle between the West and the East, between the main centres of power, and also new risks, challenges and threats that have recently emerged and are now influencing the national security of many countries, including Belarus.”

According to Mr. Volfovich, all changes in the concept can be divided into five blocks, “The first of them deals with the main changes in the conceptual definitions. For example, the ‘national security’ concept is supplemented by such a fundamental thesis as the state of protection of the national interests to ensure sustainable development of society. The ‘national interests’ concept is supplemented by such provisions as harmony in society, the inviolability of the foundations of the rule of the people and the government under law. ‘A source of threat’ has also been corrected, and a gradation of threats to national security has been introduced. The second major block covers the conclusions from the assessment of the foreign policy situation. The trends of the modern world and the changes in the military-political situation that have occurred in more than 12 years since the existence of the current concept are outlined in detail.”

The State Secretary of the Security Council added that the third block concerns updating the main provisions of the concept. “For example, strategic national interests are supplemented with the notion of comprehensive protection of the people of Belarus as a unique historical community, the only source of state power. The issues of ensuring ideology on a par with sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the state have been raised to a high level. Such aspects as ensuring military security and armed protection of the country are envisaged. The main interests in all areas of national security have been supplemented. A new concept of electoral sovereignty has emerged. This is an inalienable right of an independent state to hold elections and referendums independently, without outside interference,” he said.

The fourth block reveals a new, ninth sphere of national security: biological. “This was done based on the analysis of the events that have recently occurred in the world – primarily, the pandemic, and how it affected the issues of the political system and the economy,” Mr. Volfovich said.

Of course, the special military operation, the work of biological laboratories on the territory of Ukraine and the entire post-Soviet space have contributed to the emergence of a new security sphere.

The fifth block concerns making changes to the assessment of national security indicators. Mr. Volfovich stressed, “New subjects of national security have been created: i.e the Belarusian People's Congress. The Prosecutor's Office and the State Control Committee have received the status of additional subjects of national security. The algorithm of actions of all subjects of national security to neutralise modern challenges and threats has been clarified.”