Oleksiy Danilov and Pawel Solokh took part in the videoconference “Democratic and Secure Belarus. View from Poland and Ukraine”

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov and Head of the National Security Bureau of the Republic of Poland Pawel Solokh took part in a videoconference “Democratic and Secure Belarus. View from Poland and Ukraine”.

Opening the videoconference, Head of the National Security Bureau of the Republic of Poland (NSB) Pawel Solokh reminded that such an initiative arose during the previous meeting with the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine. According to Mr. Solokh, this videoconference is a good opportunity to discuss the security situation in the region.

In his introductory speech, Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov noted that the current situation in the Republic of Belarus is extremely important not only for Ukraine and Poland but for the whole of Europe, in particular, in the context of Russia’s growing influence on political and social processes in Belarus.

In this context, the situation on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border becomes especially urgent for Ukraine due to Russia’s ever-increasing presence in Belarusian events, he said, emphasizing the importance of the constant exchange of information on events in Belarus between the security agencies of Ukraine and Poland.

In this context, Mr. Danilov expressed his conviction on the need to establish a permanent working group at the level of the NSDC of Ukraine and the NSB of the Republic of Poland on security issues in the region with further possible involvement of the Lithuanian side.

“Belarus is part of our common Europe, and its democratic development is extremely important”, - he said.

The participants of the videoconference discussed the current situation in Belarus and possible further developments, as well as the impact of the Russian factor on the internal processes in this country.

The participants of the discussion paid particular attention to the issue of the need for the Belarusian authorities to adhere to democratic standards and ensure civil rights and freedoms.

Director of the Centre for Eastern Studies Adam Eberhardt, External Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Volodymyr Khandohiy, Expert of the Ukrainian Institute of the Future Igar Tyshkevych, Director of the International Strategic Action Network Uladzimir Kobets, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Marcin Przydacz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Of Ukraine Vasyl Bondar, former Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Poland (2002-2008) Pavel Latushko.