MINSK. Nov 29 (Interfax-West) - Foreign intelligence services, especially from the U.S., are very busy in Belarus, said Leonid Yerin, chairman of the country's State Security Committee (KGB).
"The most important transportation and communication links area of which is strategically important. Belarus' advanced weapons attract close attention from the special services of leading countries," he said.
"Foreign intelligence services have been showing increased interest in secret information on Belarus' armed forces and their combat readiness, arms and the efficiency of their command and mobilization potential. Intelligence services are also interested in the "defense factories that work closely with Russian and other CIS enterprises," Yerin said.
The CIA and other agencies are especially active in data collection and use the U.S. Embassy in Minsk as a cover, he said.
About 20 career intelligence officers in the Embassy account for nearly one half of the staff members with diplomatic status, Yerin said.