Patrushev: the protection of Russia's borders must be strengthened due to the possible expansion of NATO
KALININGRAD, June 21 - RIA Novosti. The protection of Russian borders should be strengthened taking into account new threats, including the possible accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting in Kaliningrad on topical issues of national security in the North-West of Russia.
Therefore, the Secretary of the Security Council continued, it is important to strengthen the coordination of work on the arrangement and technical equipment of the border, to intensify the development of automated passport and customs control systems and other types of control, to introduce new digital technologies into this activity more widely.
In general, as Patrushev noted, the protection of the country's national interests in the border area in modern conditions is of particular importance and should be provided within the framework of the implementation of the Fundamentals of the state border Policy of the Russian Federation. He added that now, taking into account the decisions taken last November at the operational meeting of the Security Council on this issue, coordinated work has been ensured to protect the state border, protect the economic and other national interests of the country. Operations "West", "Violator", "Cordon", "Frontier", "Search", "Illegal" and others are carried out on a regular basis; border infrastructure is being improved.
"At the same time, shortcomings in the arrangement of the state border, including the slow pace of reconstruction and modernization of checkpoints across the state border, are a deterrent to the effective implementation of the state border policy. Currently, only 11% of checkpoints comply with regulatory requirements," the Secretary of the Security Council stressed.
