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Head of state will decide on Belarus' participation in CSTO military operations, defense minister says

A decision whether or not Belarus should contribute its contingent to a military operation conducted by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be made by the head of state, Defense Minister Yury Zhadobin told reporters minutes after the House of Representatives ratified the CSTO's agreement on the establishment of a rapid response force on May 26.

The general said that Belarus would contribute some 2,000 Armed Forces personnel, an 80-strong police unit, 30 officers of the Committee for State Security (KGB) and 30 emergency management staff to the Collective Rapid Response Force (CRRF).

The ratification of the agreement by the lower chamber does not mean that the Belarusian contingent "will be certainly sent [to aid CSTO operations] no matter when and where," according to the minister. "In each specific case an edict by the head of state will be drawn up. It will specify when and on what terms our armed forces will be sent abroad," he stressed. //BelaPAN