MINSK, 27 July (BelTA) - Zapad 2017 army exercise is open, with a great number of observers invited to attend, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the meeting with the high-ranking officials of the State Secretariat of the Security Council on 27 July, BelTA has learned.
During the meeting the head of state spoke about the forthcoming Belarus-Russia joint army exercise Zapad 2017. “A lot has been said about it. I would like to listen to something new. The old issues such as the concerns of the NATO, neighbors, including Ukraine where I have recently been to, have been clarified to them,” the president stressed. “The exercise is open. We have invited a great number of observers. Please come and see it with your own eyes.”
The head of state also mentioned the fact that Zapad 2017 is a defensive exercise. “We will traditionally hold this army exercise with the Russian Federation,” he concluded.
