MINSK, June 7. /TASS/. Belarus and Russia respond adequately to NATO’s enhancement at their borders, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday.
"Russians often say that new NATO contingents are being deployed near Russia’s borders," he said at a meeting with the heads of delegations to the 26th session of the council of heads of higher financial control authorities of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). "It should be emphasized that first of all near our, Belarus’, borders. We see it and take adequate measures without too much fuss."
The Russian authorities, in his words, are now acting in the same way "bearing in mind that we have a joint force in the west which is tasked to ensure security of our homeland - Belarus and Russia."
He reminded that the basis of this force is Belarusian army units. "In case of conflict, they will be the first go into action and units deployed in Russia’s western regions will be pulled here in a short while," Lukashenko said. "We never conceal this from our Western, what you call them, colleagues, or partner, or rivals."
"They are fully aware of our agreements with Russia," he stressed.
He noted he is saying this today to bring home his positions concerning the CIS. "Belarus has always been an initiator of integration processes in the post-Soviet space. It has always favored and is favoring really close relations between the republics of the former Soviet Union," the Belarusian leader said. "If we follow other principles we will never find cooperation between the republic and clashes, or even, God forbid, wars, like it is now in Ukraine, will be possible between us."