Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) – Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov does not think it is judicious to comment on outbursts of military analysts about the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017. The official made the relevant statement on the air of the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Ravkov said: “We’ve recently seen an increase in the number of analysts focusing on military affairs, including in Belarus. Most of them did not even serve in the army. I would like to leave their outbursts and expressions without comments.”

In his words, Belarus practices a very transparent attitude towards the Zapad 2017 exercise by inviting the necessary number of observers, representatives of mass media and international organizations. “We have enabled complete transparency not because we seek justification from anyone,” stressed the Belarusian defense minister. “I think our neighbors ought to be more open as well.”

Andrei Ravkov said that the tasks the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 is supposed to achieve are being accomplished, bolstering the defensive capability of Belarus and the Union State of Belarus and Russia.