BREST. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Belarussian Defense Minister Colonel General Leonid Maltsev supports the retention of the CIS and its military organizations.
"Many say now that the CIS is out of place. Belarus has a firm standpoint, which is not subject to any situational aspects. If some try to undermine the CIS, we are not the ones who will support them," he said during the CIS meting in Defense Minister Council session.
He emphasized that Belarus needs to take part in integrated structures, because it is much concerned with stability, reliability and future of the CIS nations.
"Nobody denies that reforms are necessary. We cannot simply leave it at that, as we should move forward to find new forms and modalities for cooperation. But all steps to be made in this regard should be made carefully after through consideration," he said.
He noted that the Belarussian Defense Ministry believes that the CIS Defense Ministers' Council and its Secretariat must be retained.