Belarus calls on OSCE to restore full international communication

This statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Sekreta at the OSCE Foreign Ministers' Council plenary session.

In his opinion, in recent years, the region has transformed from a space for dialogue into a space of fears, barriers, and mutual accusations. And Belarus is experiencing this crisis not theoretically, but physically – on its borders.

Igor Sekreta, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus:

"New barriers are being erected on our borders, crossings are being closed, and new dividing lines are being artificially constructed. Enormous amounts of money are being spent on militarization. At the same time, Belarus is being accused of aggressive intentions, which we have never had and do not have. We see how the politicization of illegal migration and cross-border smuggling is being used to incite fear. At the same time, it is completely ignored that these problems are a direct consequence of crises, destroyed states, and erroneous foreign policy decisions. Belarus is not obligated, and will not, compensate for the consequences of others' mistakes. However, we always remain open to contacts at the appropriate level to jointly find solutions to existing problems. The crisis of the international security system cannot but affect the state of the OSCE. Our organization has ceased to be a forum for communication between those who disagree with each other. Instead of dialogue, we have become a political show where countries are divided into "right" and "wrong." But the OSCE was originally created not as a club of like-minded people, but as A mechanism for interaction between opponents. We are confident that without a return to this original logic, the OSCE has no future."

Igor Sekreta called on participants to recognize that to end conflicts and achieve a new détente, full-fledged international communication must first be restored. And if governments are temporarily unprepared for direct discussions, Minsk proposes engaging analysts, the academic community, and expert bodies in launching the dialogue. Belarus is ready to host such discussions without preconditions. For example, the Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security could serve as such a platform.