NATO’s activities on the western borders of the CSTO cannot be called “serving the cause of peace”, moreover, a significant part of the blame for what is happening today in Minsk and other cities of Belarus lies with the countries that are members of the alliance, says Elena Panina, a member of the State Duma’s international affairs committee.
Earlier, NATO spokesman Oana Lungescu said that the presence of the alliance in Eastern Europe is strictly defensive, does not pose a threat and is dictated by the purpose of preventing conflicts and maintaining peace.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Panina noted that NATO’s activities on the western borders of the CSTO alliance cannot be called “serving the cause of peace.” “The very expansion of NATO to the East, undertaken contrary to the promises made by the Western leaders to the Soviet Union, from the very beginning became one of the key factors of international tension, which has steadily increased over time. The militarization of Poland, the strengthening of military cooperation of this country with the United States, further aggravates the situation.” – said Panina.
Moreover, Panina stressed, while taking steps aimed at destabilizing the situation in Belarus, Western leaders are well aware of all the risks posed by the emergence of the civil confrontation in Minsk to the level of the conflict between NATO and the CSTO, but they still do it, trying to bring the situation to a hot phases and involve Russia in this conflict.
“Over the past 25 years, NATO countries have constantly exerted sanctions pressure on Minsk, intervened in the internal affairs of Belarus, sponsoring opposition NGOs and supporting radical groups, provoking a civil conflict. A significant part of the blame for what is happening today in Minsk and other cities of Belarus, of course , lies on the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance “, – stated Panina.
On Sunday, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that NATO troops “clang their tracks” at the gates of Belarus, and that military power is being built up near the western borders of the country. Earlier, he expressed concern about the buildup of the armed component in Poland and Lithuania, on the territory of which NATO military exercises are being held.