MINSK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The joint military exercise West 2017 between Belarus and Russia will be held from September 14 to 20, Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov told reporters on Monday.
The Defense Minister informed the scope of this exercise is from the Kola Peninsula direction in the arctic zone to Belarus.
Ravkov said Belarus will furnish seven exercise areas and locations for the regional military forces, which includes the Armed Forces of Belarus and the 1st Tank army of the Russian Western Military District.
"The total number of troops that will be involved in the exercise will not exceed the parameters stipulated by the 2011 Vienna Document, no more than 13,000 personnel," he said.
The minister said Russia plans to send about 3,000 military personnel, about 280 vehicles, up to 25 aircraft and helicopters for the joint exercise in Belarus.
Ravkov said Western partners are interested in sending observers to watch the exercise. "We will send invitations 50 days before the start of the exercise. The needs the Western partners have requested will be met," he added.
