Lukashenko: Belarus will remain committed to integration processes, but with strict adherence to its interests

Belarus will remain committed to integration processes, while clearly pursuing its own interests

Belarus will remain committed to integration processes, while clearly pursuing its own interests. This was stated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, today at a meeting with the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Stanislav Zas, a BELTA correspondent reports.

"Since Belarus has been destined to chair all integration bodies this year, we will do it with dignity," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "We will, as before, remain committed to integration processes, including in the military sphere, but at the same time we will clearly pursue our interests."

CSTO member states will hold several joint events this year to give impetus to the fight against challenges and threats to collective security. Among them is the already traditional anti-drug operation "Kanal". It will be held in two stages: law enforcement agencies plan to block the "northern route" of drug supplies from Afghanistan and take measures to combat the spread of synthetic drugs. Headquarters will be located in Dushanbe and St. Petersburg. In addition, operations to suppress illegal migration "Nelegal" and to counter crimes in the field of information technology "Proksi" are planned.

Further exercises are planned within the framework of joint training of management bodies and formations of forces and assets of the collective security system. In Armenia, the command and staff exercise "Interaction", the special exercise with reconnaissance forces and assets "Poisk" (Search), and the special exercise with logistics forces and assets of the CSTO Collective Forces "Echelon" will be held. Kyrgyzstan will host the exercise of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region "Rubezh" (Frontier), and Belarus will host the command and staff exercise with the CSTO peacekeeping forces "Nerushimoye bratstvo" (Unbreakable Brotherhood). The plan of events also includes a special exercise with the emergency rescue units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the tactical special exercise "Kobalt" (Cobalt) with special forces.