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Russia, Belarus discuss NATO expansion threats

The two countries' security councils' officials discussed joint actions to strengthen international and regional security

© AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis

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Russian official: NATO expansion is aimed at justifying its own existence

MOSCOW, August 23. /TASS/. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has discussed with Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Stanislav Zas risks and threats to both countries from NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe. The press service of the Russian Security Council reported on Tuesday that this issue was raised during Russian-Belarusian security consultations that took place in Minsk.

"They discussed joint actions to strengthen international and regional security, issues of bilateral cooperation in the sphere of peacekeeping units’ training and improving the troops’ technical equipment," the Security Council said. "The two countries’ experts discussed issues related to the development of the contractual legal framework in relations between Russia and Belarus, paying particular attention to improving the legal regulation in the sphere of cooperation between the two states’ investigative committees and migration control bodies, as well as to updating the treaty on the protection of the external border of the Union State."

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"The two sides exchanged views on the risks and challenges to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus from the NATO military buildup in Eastern Europe, as well as on matters related to the fight against international terrorism", the Security Council said.

The Russian delegation also informed the Belarusian colleagues about the progress of a special operation in Syria. "In conclusion, Patrushev said that the experience of bilateral allied interaction at all levels, including the exchange of expert opinion through the two countries’ security councils, is mutually beneficial and will contribute to the further development of cooperation between Russia and Belarus in many spheres", the Security Council said.

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Foreign policy NATO

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