|
STATEMENT
by H.E.Mr.
Gennady NEVYGLAS
State Secretary
of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus
at the
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
Plenary Meeting
at the level of Heads of State and Government
(Istanbul, 29 June
2004)
Distinguished Mr.
Secretary-General,
Distinguished
Presidents, Heads of Delegations,
Ladies and
Gentlemen.
The past decade of our Partnership gave us an opportunity to build together
the comprehensive system of security in the Euro-Atlantic area, and to
defend our common and most important assets – stability, security and
universal human values.
Today the nature of risks and challenges, which represent the real threat to
the international community, is evolving.
Terrorism in all its manifestations is obviously the main threat to our
security and stability. Partnership demonstrated its ability to counter it,
but we cannot be satisfied with the results achieved while civilians are
still dying in terrorist attacks. The most important goal of our today’s
meeting is to demonstrate to the international community that all EAPC
Member States are determined to continue and intensify effective common
efforts to combat this evil. Therefore, the Republic of Belarus declares its
support of the Alliance’s proposal on the development of the Partnership
Action Plan against terrorism.
Belarus is ready to share responsibility to maintain peace and international
stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area by means of concrete actions and
implementing joint decisions. Having in its disposal modern armed forces,
the Republic of Belarus for the first time ever adopted national legislation
allowing us to participate in peacekeeping operations. The national
peacekeeping military contingent will be trained for these purposes through
the existing Partnership mechanisms.
Belarus supports international community efforts on Afghanistan
reconstruction. We are ready to make our territory available for transit of
cargoes and personnel of the International Security Assistance Forces bound
for this country. Belarus is also prepared to provide for these purposes a
transport aircraft, which is declared by our country in the framework of the
Partnership.
Reduction of the threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation has
always been one of the priorities of our country’s foreign policy. In this
connection I would like to emphasize that Belarus welcomes and shares the
objectives of the Proliferation Security Initiative declared in Krakow. In
conformity with our national legislation we are ready to cooperate with the
PSI participating states in conducting active measures to counter
proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems. We believe that EAPC has a
high potential for co-operation in the field of non-proliferation.
With a view to integrate the PSI into the international law, the Republic of
Belarus speaks in favour of profound and comprehensive consideration of its
implementation mechanisms in the framework of the UN Security Council, as
the only universal body with responsibility to adopt enforcement measures
for maintaining or restoring international peace and security.
Belarus supports the inclusion of the issue of trafficking in human beings
into the EAPC agenda. It is still a serious challenge to our security. At
the national level we are taking active measures to fight this scourge. We
are convinced that the Partnership in co-operation with other organisations
and institutions is capable to spur and increase the effectiveness of our
efforts to confront “the slavery of the XXI century”.
We
consider that the initiatives proposed by the Alliance to promote democratic
transformation and defence institutions reforms in Partner countries are
interesting and promising.
We
are convinced that the real strengthening of stability and security in the
Euro-Atlantic area could only be achieved through the balanced development
of the Partnership mechanisms.
In
this regard, Belarus positively assesses the experience gained in terms of
bilateral and regional co-operation with neighbouring countries in
counteracting today’s threats. This year we have reached agreements on
bilateral complementary confidence- and security-building measures with
Poland and Latvia. In addition to the previously concluded similar bilateral
agreements with Ukraine and Lithuania these measures create an important
zone of confidence and security for all neighbouring countries. We believe
that there is a good basis for the implementation of the Belarus’ proposals
announced at the Prague Summit – to enhance the regional Partnership
co-operation on the issues of joint protection of the European strategic
energy facilities, illegal migration and illicit trade in arms combating,
border control.
The conventional arms control remains a vitally important basis and
instrument for harmonisation of state-partners national security interests.
However, we are seriously concerned about the future of the European
conventional weapons control system. Five years ago, here in Istanbul, the
crucial decisions on the adaptation of the Conventional Forces in Europe
Treaty (CFE) were taken. We appeal to all State Parties of the CFE Treaty to
implement the Istanbul key commitment – that is to ratify the Agreement on
Adaptation of CFE Treaty. We are convinced that the forthcoming entry into
force of the Adapted CFE Treaty meets security interests of the whole
region.
In
conclusion, let me express my gratitude to the Government of the Republic of
Turkey for hospitality and excellent organisation of the Summit, which,
without any doubt, will become a remarkable event in the EAPC history.
Belarus welcomes the development of the Partnership for Peace – Partnership
for our common Security and Stability – and believes that the decisions
approved yesterday and today will provide a solid foundation for the future
common constructive co-operation.
Thank you for your attention.
|
