BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
10/02/2009
Russia, Belarus In Row Over Regional Security Pact
MINSK, Belarus (AFP)--Russia and Belarus were caught in a diplomatic row Tuesday after Belarus said it wouldn't send its troops into combat as part of a new regional security accord.
Belarus responded angrily to comments made Saturday by Russia's ambassador to Minsk that inter-governmental agreements carry greater legal weight than domestic law, which Belarus says bars its troops from joint-combat missions.
"Firstly, I would like to emphasize that it will not be for ambassadors of other countries to interpret relevant elements of the Belarussian legislation," Belarus Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Popov said.
"Secondly...there is a law of our country on that subject and it will be rigorously implemented."
Belarus - normally seen as a close ally of Russia - signed on as a founding member to an accord last week creating a rapid military reaction force based in Russia.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization - seen as an ex-Soviet counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - is comprised of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
But Belarus appeared to be backing away from one of the key provisions of the agreement, namely that it would contribute soldiers if necessary to take part in co-operative security actions.
"I want to emphasize with all certainty that our lads don't fight in conflict zones and that they aren't going to fight," Foreign Minister Sergei Martinov said in an interview on Belarussian state television Saturday.
"All of our laws on this theme will be followed to the letter, and of this no one should have any doubt."
Public reaction from the Russian government to the news has been muted but conciliatory.
One possibility floated by the Kremlin is for Belarussian troops to serve in a non-combat capacity.
"The Belarussian constitution, indeed, forbids its military forces from serving in military operations for a foreign power," a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman told the Kommersant newspaper.
"We are working over these questions."
Source:
Archive
Subscribe Daily Newsletter:
Belarus News and Analysis Donate:
