MINSK, November 18. /TASS/. The recent global developments, including a political crisis in Ukraine, have created a high level of no confidence, and the world turned out to be on the threshold of a new Cold War, Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei declared at a joint meeting of senior diplomats of the foreign ministries of Belarus and Russia on Tuesday.
"The political crisis in Ukraine has brought the level of tension to a top point and created a high level of no confidence in the world," the minister said. “Our world is on the threshold of a new Cold War," he warned.
"The lack of coordination in the activities of the international community, the ambitions cherished by some states to upset the existing balance of forces not only in Europe, but in the world in general, provokes deepening and expansion of conflicts. We have witnessed that attempts, made to change the situation in the "unwelcome" countries to suit someone's interests, have brought about large-scale consequences," Makei said.
Belarus and Russia have faced "new challenges from the West," he said. "The United States continues creating ABM (anti-ballistic missile) and has enhanced NATO's activities near our borders," the foreign minister said. "All these developments demand our timely response."
Belarus and Russia will strengthen cooperation in international defense and will oppose the deployment of a missile defense system in Europe, Makei said.
Makei and Lavrov discussed their attitude toward the US missile shield and the planned deployment of the missile defense system in Europe. “The deployment of these systems is highly likely to upset the current balance of forces on the European continent. We need measures on the consistent and adequate reaction,” the minister said.
According to Makei, the sides discussed the issues of coordination and cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and relations with the European Union.
In particular, the talks on relations with the EU focused on the Eastern partnership. “Belarus will continue calling on Russia to be involved in the implementation of this initiative, in particular, in fulfilling mutually beneficial regional projects,” Makei said.
The Belarusian and Russian sides have reaffirmed their plans for “closer cooperation in order to reinforce positions of the two countries on the international arena and the development of processes as part of the Union State.”
“We agreed to further work in the United Nations and discussed cooperation of Belarus and Russia as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” the minister said.