February 15, 2022.
The information was prepared by Gunta Krevica, Senior Reporter of the Press Division of the Military Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defense.
At the OSCE meeting with Belarus on 14 February, initiated by the Baltic States under the OSCE crisis mechanism, Latvia did not receive the requested information from Belarus on military exercises, “Union Resolve-2022”.
France, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, expressed its support for the steps taken by the Baltic States to de-escalate the crisis, using the opportunities provided by the Vienna Document. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey and Switzerland also expressed support, stressing the importance of political and diplomatic efforts in the current security situation.
Given that the Baltic States were not satisfied with Belarus’ response of 11 February to large-scale military activities in Belarus, they requested that a special OSCE meeting be held in Vienna on 14 February, inviting other interested OSCE participating States to attend. Unlike Russia, which did not attend the meeting and did not declare its membership unacceptable, Belarus did. However, this time too Belarus did not provide explanations on the scope of ongoing military exercises, armaments systems, information on the time when the Russian armed forces plan to return to their original locations in Russia, as well as other aspects of concern and insecurity not only for the Baltic States but also for others. OSCE participating States.
Belarus limited itself to the general information already provided on the ongoing military activities on its territory, reiterating that the training did not exceed 13,000 troops. However, it is undeniable that the publicly available information, in the speeches of high-level officials of Belarus and Russia, as well as the information available to the Latvian Ministry of Defense, clearly indicates that the number of soldiers and military equipment involved is significantly higher than in Belarus.
Belarus also denied that it should inform other OSCE participating States of these activities, as required by the Vienna Document. Belarus also did not answer questions from the Baltic States and other OSCE participating States. It assessed the Vienna Document and its mechanism as unfriendly and escalating, contrary to what the Baltic States and other OSCE participating States had said: a mechanism for consultation, co-operation and risk prevention.
The Baltic States plan to take the next step within the framework of the resolution mechanism set out in the Vienna Document and to convene a political (ambassadorial) meeting of all OSCE participating States in Vienna in the near future.
It has already been reported that large-scale military exercises “Union Resolve-2022” will take place from February 10 to 20, raising serious security concerns in the Baltic States, which requested information about these military exercises from Belarus. It should be noted that Ukraine has also asked Russia to explain its military activities, using the possibilities provided by the Vienna Document, to which Russia replied in the negative.
To circumvent its arms control commitments, Russia and Belarus have suspended their arms control activities under the pretext of Covid-19, but the challenges of the pandemic do not prevent them from concentrating large numbers of troops. Both countries also do not provide any informative explanation of their military activities.
In the context of these exercises, Belarus, like Russia, is taking a selective approach to its arms control obligations and choosing which ones to fulfill. Latvia reiterates that a selective approach to arms control measures is not acceptable in the context of European security, and advocates openness and the need to fully implement arms control treaties and commitments. In order to ensure international peace, states must fully respect their international obligations and treaties, including their arms control commitments.
Additional information:
AM Military Public Relations Department
Senior Press Officer
Gunta Krevica
Phone: 67335067
E-pasts: [email protected]
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