Belarus, Russia to unite efforts to assess information security threats

Belarus and Russia will team up to analyze information security threats, BelTA has learned from Leonid Yermantovich, Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Human Rights, Ethnic Relations and Mass Media of the House of Representatives of Belarus.

At the session of the commission on 9 September, the MPs discussed a draft law on the ratification of the Belarus-Russia intergovernmental cooperation agreement in the field of international information security. The MP noted that the document provides for holding regular bilateral consultations to review the implementation of the agreement, to exchange information, analyze and assess emerging threats to information security. Besides, the agreement provides for developing, harmonizing and coordinating joint efforts to respond to information threats.

“The international agreement will help ramp up joint efforts to boost information security. Our commission has plans to include the draft law on its ratification into the agenda of the autumn session of the House of Representatives that will start on 2 October this year,” Leonid Yermantovich said.

The agreement was signed in Moscow on 25 December 2013. Its major objective is to facilitate the Belarus-Russia cooperation in the field of international information security, to develop the adequate legislative framework, to minimize international information security threats and to protect the information space of the two countries.

The MP noted that the issues of international information security are getting increasingly relevant against the backdrop of information crimes and information terrorism, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and a possibility to use information and communication technologies for hostile purposes.