MINSK, 1 October (BelTA) – The deployment of a Russian military base in the territory of Belarus is not on the Belarus-Russia agenda, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said in an interview with the RBC information agency. The text of the interview was posted on the website of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BelTA has learned.

Journalists asked why Belarus refused to host a Russian military base (this decision of Belarus had been mentioned earlier in an interview with Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov) and whether this matter is under discussion now.

“As to the decision to host or not to host the military base or other military facilities in Belarus and possible impact of external factors on this decision, I want to be clear: Belarus will never ever make an important decision under the influence of some external forces. The Belarusian authorities take only those decisions that meet our national interests. This is a fundamental principle,” Vladimir Makei emphasized.

“As to the very proposal to host a military base in Belarus, you know that taking into consideration modern technologies, such a decision would not change anything. If Belarus hosted some additional military facilities, I doubt that it would contribute to stability and security in our region. And again, what is the purpose of deploying some additional military facilities, namely the military air base, if today such missiles can reach another continent or the other side of our planet within minutes. Therefore, there is no practical, political or military sense in implementing this proposal,” the minister said.