The forthcoming joint Belarusian-Russian military exercise Zapad 2017 will be open to observers, State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota told BelTA.
“A big number of observers have been invited to attend the army exercise. Among them are defense ministers of foreign countries, military attaches. The exercise will be open. Come, see and assess,” Grigory Rapota said.
Speaking about the goals of the exercise, Grigory Rapota recalled that the Union State has a regional group of forces. “This group has been set up for purely defensive purposes. Any military unit, once it is created, must maintain its combat readiness. Therefore, this group conducts regular staff exercises, field exercises, and Zapad is one of such regular exercises,” Grigory Rapota said.