Leanid Spatkai: It’s too early be alarmed,the agreement between FSB and KGB have not yet been signed

Agreement on the participation of Special Forces in counter-terrorism operations conducted on the territory of Belarus and the Russia should include reciprocal commitments and guarantees.

The decree №446 «On the international draft agreement "signed by Lukashenka on December 6 triggered a public backlash. The decree approves "the attached draft of the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on the participation of Special Forces in counter-terrorism operations conducted on the territory of the Republic of Belarus or the Russian Federation * (hereinafter - the Agreement), as a basis for negotiations."The document also authorizes the State Security Committee to hold "negotiations on the draft agreement, allowing to make changes and additions that do are not of fundamental nature, if necessary."

Leanid Spatkai, military analyst, answered to the questions of "EuroBelarus" Information Service.

- Secret Presidential decree has caused a great concern of the public. Is there any reason to worry?

- Firstly, why it secret? The decree is publicly available on the National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus.

Secondly, what are the reasons for the "serious concern of the public"? The document is approved "as a basis for negotiations."

Another thing is the agreement itself. However, the absence of the document open for public shows that it is intended for official use only, i.e. for experts rather than everyone, as opposed to the rules of passenger transportation by bus or fire safety regulations.

It would be highly incorrect to express any judgment on the document and to assess it without reading its text.

 - Why would Lukashenka invite Russian Special Forces in a situation of worsening relations with Russia?

- As we can see form the title of the agreement, we are talking about the participation of Special Forces of both Belarus and Russia, in counter-terrorism operations conducted on the territory of both Belarus and Russian Federation. Thus, by analogy with the statement that "Russian Special Forces are invited to Belarus" we could say that "Belarusian Special Forces are sent to Russia."

As for the "worsening relations with Russia", how many of these "worsenings" have we experienced in the recent, say, couple of years?

- A former judge of the Constitutional Court compared the forthcoming agreement between the FSB and KGB to the "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact" and saw "an attack at the sovereignty and independence of the country" in it.

- With all due respect to the distinguished Mikhail Pastukhou, it is, to put it mildly, inaccurate to compare the interstate act and an agreement on cooperation of specialized units, even in the military field. They are of two very different "weight categories".  The agreement in question is of even less importance than the agreement on joint efforts in protecting the state border of Belarus, signed by Russia and Belarus on February 21, 1995.

Moreover, there are analogous and similar agreements between the same kind of Special Forces of the USA and Germany, for instance, and no one compared the agreements with the Treaty of Versailles.

- Are there any guarantees that the Special Forces or members of the Special Forces of Belarus or Russia are not already running any missions on the territory of a neighboring country?

- Obviously, the agreement provides some mutual obligations and guarantees. In addition to that, these operations are carried out in a close cooperation of Special Forces that always have some "tricks up their sleeve", "just in case".