© Viktor Drachev/TASS
MINSK, March 30. /TASS/. Reports that the Russian military allegedly remains on the territory of Belarus after completion of joint exercises “West-2017” in September of this year, are “speculations and inventions”. This was stated by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Alexander Surikov.
“This is a traditional military exercises, which are held once in two years on the territory of a state”, – said the diplomat.
“No hysteria here should not be”, – he stressed.
The Ambassador also said that at present, Moscow and Minsk do not discuss the questions of creation of the Russian airbase on the territory of Belarus. “Such a question did not stand. No question about the database location can not be without the intergovernmental agreement. But it is not” – said Surikov.
Joint exercises of Russia and Belarus “West-2017” will be held from 14 to 20 September. From the Russian Federation they will involve about 3 thousand military and about 280 pieces of equipment, including 25 aircraft. Earlier, the Belarusian defense Minister Andrei Ravkov reported that the total number of participants of the maneuvers will not exceed 13 thousand people.