Belarus, Russia approve Union State information security concept

The Supreme State Council of the Union State has passed a resolution to approve the Union State information security concept, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The document was developed in close collaboration of the offices of the security councils, foreign ministries and other authorities of the two countries. The document seeks to create a solid legal foundation to respond to modern information challenges and threats,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The main purpose of the document is to protect the national interests of the Union State members in the media landscape. The concept sets guidelines for a coherent state policy and for public relations in the field of information security. It also sets the framework for improving the information security systems of the two states.

The document aims to improve the information infrastructure security of the participating states and, above all, their critical facilities. It is also designed to combat destructive impacts on the information resources of the Union State.

In line with the concept, while working in the international information space, the participating states shall proceed from economic and social interests of their people, from the task to maintain international and regional security based on the generally recognized principles and norms of international law and national legislations,” the press service noted.

It went on saying that the principles of the concept are being consistently implemented by Belarus and Russia in cooperation with like-minded states at the UN platform - the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, as well as the open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 (OEWG). To facilitate the OEWG efforts to develop a legally binding mechanism to maintain international information security, a resolution “Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security” was adopted at the initiative of Russia and with the co-sponsorship of Belarus during the work of the Disarmament and International Security (First Committee) at the UN General Assembly in December 2022.

“The Union State information security concept can serve as an example and a model for other states and regional associations. Belarus and Russia will continue to exchange best practices in the field of information security at the national, regional and global levels with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in order to minimize common risks and threats in the field of ICT and to develop rules for responsible behavior in the information space,” the ministry concluded.