Lukashenka: “Western model of so-called democracy implanted to us”

Economic sanctions by the West have become the topic of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s speech at a meeting with graduates of the department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Command and Staff department of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus and the Military Academy of the Russian Federation.

“The historical experience of the Belarusian nation, harsh reality of the world politics demand us constant attention to issues of national security,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated.

The Belarusian ruler has underlined that maintaining highest level of the army’s defence potential is to be a priority of the country’s leadership ever, Interfax informs. “An independent policy can be pursued only when we would be strong and capable to give a rebuff to encroachments on our country and its sovereignty,” the leader of Belarus believes.

He has added that the most important mission of the Armed Forces of Belarus is “to maintain a high level of defence potential and preventing military risks’ turning into military perils”.

Speaking about the situation in the world, the Belarusian leader noted that military and terrorist activity has intensified in many regions of the planet including in Europe. “The NATO eastward expansion and the deployment of the US anti-missile system near our borders, devaluation of international arms control legal base seriously complicate the military and political situation,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.

He has underlined that the economic sanctions against Belarus and political pressure “in disguise of democracy and freedom concerns” contradict the principles of good neighborliness and cooperation.

Lukashenka has noted with regret that “unfortunately, some western politicians persistently call for the unconstitutional change of power in Belarus, for the spread of western model of the so-called democracy”.

According to the Belarusian President, the goal of such actions is to destabilize the situation, destroy the political system and subordinate a sovereign state to those powers that are seeking to establish a unipolar world. “True independence is independence from a diktat from strong states, from imposing a way of life which is alien for the nation’s mentality,” Lukashenka is convinced.

He has also voiced confidence that regional grouping of Belarus and Russia, “which is a guarantor of the “union state” Western borders’ security”, should be developed.

According to Lukashenka, since Belarus gained independence the country has not involved in any political reckless schemes or international conflicts. Thus “Belarus is a bulwark of peace and security in the European region”.

“Belarus strictly observes the international agreements and rejects the use of force as an instrument of foreign policy. Belarus takes an active part in strengthening the international security,” Belarusian leader emphasized.

Lukashenka has also expressed an opinion that guaranteeing national security is impossible without skilled, well-rounded and professional officer. “That is why our state does everything for our officers to get modern and first-rate education in our educational institutions,” the head of the state noted.

149 graduates have attended the reception, including the first graduates of the Command and Staff department of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus. Alyaksandr Lukashenka has awarded 12 best graduates who had been awarded a golden medal, letters of acknowledgement from the president. He has also given general’s shoulder straps to two representatives of the Defence Ministry and to two KGB representatives.