on the briefing on the Joint Strategic Belarusian-Russian exercises “Zapad-2017”.

On 8 September 2017 at NATO HQ on the NATO invitation the alliance was briefed on the Joint Strategic Belarusian-Russian exercises “Zapad-2017”. The briefing was conducted by Major General Oleg Voinov, the Assistant for Foreign Military Policy to the Minister of Defence of Belarus, the Head of International Military Cooperation Department. Permanent Representative of Belarus to NATO Ambassador Aleksandr Mikhnevich took part in the event.

The briefing was organised in the format of Deputies’ Committee + Belarus and was chaired by Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Alejandro Alvargonzález. About 50 experts participated in the briefing.

The participants were informed on the concept, goals, tasks and phases of the “Zapad” exercises, on a number of participants and equipment that would be engaged in the exercises.

The representatives of the NATO countries demonstrated considerable initiative. Major General Oleg Voinov and Ambassador Aleksandr Mikhnevich provided comprehensive answers to the large number of questions.  
During the discussion Ambassador Mikhnevich called on all parties not only to listen to each other but also to hear, not to call into question in advance the information on the “Zapad” exercises and to trust each other more.

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