Lukashenko on Zapad 2017 exercise: We are not going to attack anyone
MINSK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Plans by Belarus and Russia to conduct the joint Zapad (West) 2017 maneuvers do not mean that they are preparing to attack anyone, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"We are not going to attack anyone. As to what these exercises are going to be like - we've invited virtually everyone interested. Let them come and see," the Belarusian state news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying.
"In the run-up to the active phase of the Zapad 2017 exercise, I'd like to hear from the defense minister about the situation in this regard. And I want to issue a warning: stop making excuses that our exercises are defensive or something else. We have an army and we have a joint Belarusian-Russian force in the western theater. And since it exists (and we didn't hide it from anyone), we'll train it to fight. Just in case," Lukashenko said.
The Russia-Belarus Zapad 2017 strategic maneuvers are scheduled for September 14-20, 2017.
