Belarus is going to develop the Eurasian Multipolarity Charter: a foundational document for our own vision of the new global architecture, said Aleksei Dzermant, political expert, philosopher, member of the Belarus’ Communist Party Central Committee, speaking to sb.by reporter on the side-lines of the 2nd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security
Mr. Dzermant pointed out that, from the ideological point of view, the greatest current threat is that of a global war.
“We have been feeling it for the last 40 years or so. It’s not a figure of speech, or a scary story. It can happen when some politicians, Western ones predominantly, lack knowledge and understanding of what is really happening in the world. We have come to the precarious edge of a global war, and the Ukrainian conflict can become a start for something much more destructive. In that context, philosophers, politicians, political scientists, in other words, everyone who can influence their governments, especially Western governments, should look for a way out, for points to connect the opposing poles,” he said.
Speaking about ways to resolve the situation, the expert suggested, “We have to demonstrate that we, the Republic of Belarus, and our allies, Russia and China, are not interested in escalation, and therefore, in starting a war. This is not our goal: all we want is to defend our security interests, including in our immediate surroundings (that’s what Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine is about). That we are not going to expand west. Those signals should be heard. That means a new global security treaty, because the old ones stopped working.”
Answering the question about the conference’s practical significance for the West, the philosopher noted, “I think all the proposals we are offering will be used as a basis for a certain formal position. On top of that, we are going to develop the Eurasian Multipolarity Charter that offers our vision of the new global architecture. So it’s not just idle talk: we are proposing a foundational document. If the West is not ready to hear us, our allies in the South and the East will. If they form a majority, the West will have no other choice but to listen.”
Asked to clarify if the conference’s concept aligns with the recent BRICS Summit in Kazan, Mr. Dzermant confirmed, “Of course. Strengthening BRICS, our participation in the SCO, are tangible manifestations of the new multipolarity, while this [the Minsk conference] is one of its elements, one of the bricks in the new foundation of the world.
The conference takes place in Minsk on October 31st-November 1st, 2024, welcoming about 600 participants from over 40 countries. It’s focused on the global paradigm shift from unipolarity to multipolarity. How to minimise security risks amid accelerating global order transformation? How to revitalise diplomacy when the entire focus is on military deterrence? Transformation of alliances and their role in the Eurasian security architecture: aggressive peacekeepers, or security guardians? Can the UN and the (sub-)regional security organisations find their purpose again? Participants intend to discuss all those questions, along with many others.