Statement by the Delegation of Belarus on the OSCE Permanent Council meeting, 24 February 2022

Statement by the Delegation of Belarus
(1358th (Reinforced) Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council,
24 February 2022)

Today, I have been instructed to present to the Permanent Council the official position of the Republic of Belarus in connection with the events that have arrested the attention of the whole world.

Over the past years Belarus has been warning, literally beating the alarm bell about a dangerous escalation of the politico-military situation in our region.
We were not listened to.

Belarus put forward a whole range of major initiatives aimed at relaunching a broad international dialogue on European security issues – the initiatives that directly correspond to the essence of the Helsinki process, which once brought peace and long-awaited détente to the European continent.

We received nods of approval, but nobody took these initiatives seriously.

Belarus repeatedly voiced the danger of reckless behaviour of the leadership and politicians of some Western countries who increasingly preferred blatant pressure and threats as instruments to solve their domestic and international problems.

We have asked the question: how long can this tension and hysteria, political and economic coercion, hybrid attacks and aggressive rhetoric continue?

All we have heard in response are reproaches, accusations and new threats.

The current situation is, sadly, a direct consequence of the reckless policy of the West to push its interests at the expense of the security of others. It has led to a rapid growth of tensions in the Eastern European region, degradation of the international security system that had been built up over decades, devaluation of international treaties and agreements.

Belarus does not need a war. We have exhausted our limit of wars during our long and complicated history. Therefore, we categorically reject any insinuations regarding any kind of involvement of Belarus into the events in Ukraine.

The Belarusian Head of State emphasized today that Belarusian troops are not taking any part in the Russian special operation in Donbas. Moreover, the President specifically clarified that the Russian leadership has never raised this issue with us.

Moreover, we tried in every possible way to prevent an escalation. In particular, the Ukrainian military leadership held several talks with their Belarusian counterparts. The last such talk took place after the meeting of the presidents of Belarus and Russia in Moscow. The nuances of the talks between the heads of state were communicated to the Ukrainian side.

We offered our Ukrainian colleagues to establish direct contact with the Russian side, and were ready to provide the necessary assistance. However, our proposal was ignored.

We regret that every opportunity has not been taken to prevent this conflict.

Belarus has always actively and consistently advocated a peaceful settlement of the conflict in south-eastern Ukraine. We continue to consider diplomatic methods as a priority and are ready to contribute to this process in every possible way.

Belarus regrets that Ukraine has broken off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.

As President Lukashenko stressed today, Belarus will not be dragged into the war. In the current situation, one must seek ways to avoid bloodshed and mass slaughter. In order to stop the escalation, we have to sit down at the negotiating table. Such negotiations could take place in Minsk. The successful experience of meetings in the Belarusian capital in 2014 and 2015 suggests that if there is political will, peace can be restored.

The way of negotiations, as we understand it, is the only right way of preventing bloodshed between the fraternal Slavonic peoples.

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