Opinions & Interviews

BORISOV DISTRICT, 20 September (BelTA) – Those worrying about the Russian military presence in Belarus during the joint army exercise Zapad 2017 should calm down, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told the media as he observed the active phase of Zapad 2017, BelTA has learned.

A German journalist asked whether the Belarus president can guarantee that the Russian forces will leave Belarus when the army exercise is over. “I think numerous guarantees had been given before the exercise even started,” the Belarusian leader underlined.

He noted that the previous military exercises have seen a similar amount of Russian troops. “Your friends need to calm down. They do not need to worry. We are not going to fight a war against anyone if we are left alone. This is our biggest guarantee,” the president said.

Speaking about the Russian military presence, he said this issue will lose importance n a week’s time. “Do not worry, we are not aggressive. We suffered a lot during the war just like you did, even though it was you who fought against us. This is why neither of us wants war. Our population has just reached the pre-war level. We have never started wars. We suffered from them,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

He added that he wants the Belarusian people to know that the state can protect them if need be. “I just want security which every state aspires to. Do not fear that we will attack you. We will not attack anyone: either Germany, or Poland, or the Baltic countries, let alone the fraternal Ukraine,” the president highlighted.