Belarus, Russia to enhance military capabilities: Lukashenko

Belarus will strengthen joint military capabilities with Russia and to try to recreate the Soviet-time military-industrial complex, Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Speaking at the military exercise named "Shchit Otechestva-2004" (Fatherland's Shield), Lukashenko said it would be sensible to try, together with Russia, to "recreate the Soviet-time military-industrial complex".

"If Russia agrees to this, it will be much easier to do. If Russia sets no such task today, we will have to modernize many things on our own," the president noted.

As for the two countries' effort to strengthen joint military capabilities, Lukashenko said the work will cover all aspects, from personnel to weaponry.

According to the president, "the Belarussian army is the core of the Belarussian-Russian force. In wartime it will be reinforced by Russia," the report said.

Lukashenko thought that the Belarussian army is "absolutely combat capable and is at its best".

In regard to Belarus's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), he said, "It is important for us to participate in the CSTO and that there is such an organization that other countries can join if a need arises."

The president meanwhile noted that his country appreciates and tries to preserve the Belarussian-Russian unity through the joint group of troops. "This is where our big interest is," he added.

Belarus will complete the modernization of all weapons in its Armed Forces within the next five years. To this end, the government has created a military-industrial committee that encompasses all defense enterprises, the Itar-Tass cited Lukashenko as reporting.

"Belarus can do a lot of things on its own and has already learned to modernize everything: helicopters, aircraft and armored vehicles," Lukashenko said, adding, "It's cheaper than to buy new weapons".

Source: Xinhua