Opinions & Interviews

BRUNSSUM, 8 December (BelTA) – Belarus and NATO regularly send observer teams to each other’s army exercises. The fact was emphasized by Marco Schmidl, Mass Media and Public Relations Officer at NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, during a media briefing for Belarusian reporters and experts, BelTA has learned.

Marco Schmidl said: “We do it regularly but it doesn’t mean we do it every week. For instance, NATO observers were present during the Zapad 2017 army exercise this year. Belarusian specialists had an opportunity to observe our exercises in 2015. I hope that Belarusians will observe the forthcoming NATO exercise in Norway in 2018”.

The officer noted: “Belarus lives in a peaceful time. Belarusians are a united nation. Every country, including Belarus, determines its domestic policy and takes care of its security in its own way”.

Marco Schmidl said he believes that security is of paramount importance in modern conditions of threats and challenges and the rapidly changing situation. He spoke at length about NATO’s policy of deterrence and defense backed by dialogue. “We can understand each other only through a dialogue,” said Marco Schmidl.