'Mind NATO reinforcement': Lukashenka approves Belarus-Russia army group engagement plan

Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka has approved a new plan specifying the engagement of the regional military group of Belarus and Russia for consideration of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

The plan presented by Belarusian Defense Minister Andrey Raukou will have to be approved by a session of the Supreme State Council. It may come into force in January 2016 and is expected to stay in effect for the next five-year term, state-run news agency BelTA reports.

Lukashenka asked Raukou whether new trends and changes in the situation around Belarus had been taken into account. According to him, much attention should be given to mutual relations in the post-Soviet space where three major integration associations exist (the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Union State of Belarus and Russia).

In his opinion, the situation in Ukraine, the flow of illegal migrants and weapons also may threaten the security of Belarus.

“Everybody knows what’s happening in Ukraine,” Lukashenka stressed.

The Belarusian leader expressed concern over the external situation, in particular, the reinforcement of NATO forces near Belarus’ western borders.

“We know about the expansion of the USA’s antimissile defense system in the west. We know about certain designs concerning nuclear weapons. We will have to bear all these factors in mind,” he said.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka was also informed about the changes Russia would like to see implemented into the new plan.

Belsat.eu, following BelTA