Europe is escalating tensions in various ways and preparing for war. This was announced on May 13 by the head of the Department of International Military Cooperation — Assistant Minister of Defense for International Military Cooperation Valery Revenko.
According to him, the decision of the Baltic countries and Poland's withdrawal from The Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of anti—personnel mines is an illogical step, a consequence of the fear of a military threat allegedly emanating from Belarus and the Russian Federation.
"In Poland and the Baltic states, they came up with the idea that someone would attack them, so we urgently need to withdraw from this convention," he said.
Revenko stressed that at the same time Belarus fulfilled all obligations in the field of prohibition of anti-personnel mines, reduced a certain number of mines of various modifications that fall under the convention. At the same time, he noted that the States that insisted at one time on implementing the provisions of the Ottawa Convention have now taken a different position. Minsk considers this state of affairs to be an escalation of tension and does not support such actions, but hopes that common sense will prevail in neighboring countries and they will "return to the practice of complying with obligations in the field of limiting the use of specific types of weapons."
In addition, Revenko drew attention to the fact that the fight against a far—fetched threat is one of the opportunities for politicians of the North Atlantic Alliance countries to retain power against the background of political, economic and other internal problems. He specified that Minsk is taking steps aimed at maintaining stability in the region, pushing back the threat of war.
"Europe, on the contrary, is escalating tensions by raising defense budgets, various military exercises, and even this decision to withdraw from the The Ottawa Convention. Thus, Europe emphasizes: yes, we are preparing for war. That is, they are really preparing for war," Revenko summed up.
The Ottawa Convention is a treaty on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti—personnel mines and on their destruction. Provides for the complete destruction of all stocks of non-directional anti-personnel mines. Entered into force in 1999. On March 18, the defense ministers of the Baltic countries and Poland in a joint statement recommended the leadership of their countries to withdraw from the The Ottawa Convention, arguing that this step is an aggravation of the military threat, as well as the need to be able to use all means of deterrence. Finland later joined them.