Arms Control Issues

In accordance with the Vienna Document 2011:

On 1–2 April, a Belarusian inspection group with the participation of an inspector from Ukraine conducted an evaluation visit to the 1st Division of the French Army. The inspectors evaluated the reliability of the information, presented by France to OSCE participating states under the Vienna Document 2011, on the personnel and materiel of the verified unit. A report on the results of the visit will be sent to all OSCE participating states within 14 days after the evaluation visit;

On 1–4 April, a Belgian inspection group, consisting of two inspectors from Belgium, an inspector from the Netherlands and an inspector from the UK, verified a specified area in Belarus. The inspection proved that the military activities conducted in the area designated for the inspection (a tactical exercise with the 120th Separate Mechanised Brigade) did not exceed the limits for military activities subject to preliminary notification under the Vienna Document 2011. A report on the results of the inspection will be sent to all OSCE participating states within 14 days after the inspection;

On 1–5 April, a Finnish inspection group, consisting of two inspectors from Finland and an inspector from Belgium, verified a specified area in Belarus. The inspection proved that the military activities conducted in the area designated for the inspection (a tactical exercise with the 120th Separate Mechanised Brigade) did not exceed the limits for military activities subject to preliminary notification under the Vienna Document 2011. A report on the results of the inspection will be sent to all OSCE participating states within 14 days after the inspection;

On 4 April, two military representatives from Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia each took part in the observation of the active phase of the tactical exercise with the 120th Separate Mechanised Brigade at the 227th training range Borisovsky. Belarus invited the military observers on a voluntary basis, seeking to develop cooperation and good neighbourliness and adhering to the principles of openness, transparency and reciprocity.

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In Accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE):

On 3–5 April, a Belarusian inspection group with the participation of an inspector from Ukraine conducted an inspection of a military unit of the French Armed Forces, which is subject to control under the CFE Treaty. The inspection proved that the actual amount of the materiel limited by the CFE Treaty corresponds to the declared data. An inspection report was signed by senior members of the Belarusian inspection group and the French escort group.