A. Lukashenko: Belarus enters the second decade of the 21st century in a fundamentally new geopolitical reality

October 19, Minsk / Vladimir Matveev - BELTA /. Belarus is entering the second decade of the 21st century in a fundamentally new geopolitical reality. This was stated today by the head of state Alexander Lukashenko, opening a meeting of the Security Council of Belarus on the issue "On the approval of the new edition of the Concept of National Security of the Republic of Belarus and documents related to its implementation," a BELTA correspondent reports. "The system of international relations that has developed since the end of World War II and the Cold War is becoming a thing of the past. The transformations taking place in the world are unprecedented in scale and dynamics. Complex processes are driven by the emergence of new centers of power, competition for access to natural resources, rapid technological evolution, the increasing importance of the information sphere, and the exacerbation of global problems of humanity," Alexander Lukashenko said. "This forces us to re-prioritize, to comprehensively and pragmatically consider issues of national security in all their diversity and close interconnection." According to the head of state, threats arising far from Belarus's borders are becoming no less relevant in the context of globalization. The global financial and economic crisis is an example of this. "The state of the existing global and regional security architecture, the legal instruments for its provision do not inspire optimism. Concerns about the further prospects of global strategic stability are becoming increasingly justified," the Belarusian leader emphasized. In addition, the President of Belarus noted that the consequences of the global crisis have exposed a number of problems that previously seemed abstract and distant, and therefore, at the present stage, one can no longer be guided by outdated views and templates. Environmental, humanitarian, and informational threats have recently acquired new significance. "Modern technologies for influencing mass consciousness sometimes have a more destructive effect than the use of traditional weapons," the head of state said. According to him, security problems have also intensified in the political sphere. First of all, this is expressed in the "creeping" degradation of existing systems and mechanisms in this area, in the use of strategies, methods, and techniques on the international stage aimed at creating various obstacles to the sustainable development of other states. "This, by the way, directly concerns our country as well," the Belarusian leader noted. Also, the danger posed by extremism and terrorism is not decreasing. Belarus, as isolated but no less sad cases show, has not become an exception either. "Against this background, approaches to ensuring Belarus's security objectively cannot remain unchanged. The importance of diagnosing and monitoring diverse problems is increasing. It is necessary to clearly define our national interests, how to protect them in the new conditions," Alexander Lukashenko said. "The mechanisms operating in the country in this area need improvement. First of all, their work must be made proactive." The head of state added that the arguments listed became decisive when the decision was made on the need to prepare a new edition of the Concept of National Security. -0-