MINSK, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Western countries are not interested in objectively evaluating the West-2017 drills, but they want to artificially inflate the situation around the drills, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told journalists on Friday.
The Foreign Ministry of Belarus believes that Western countries are artificially fueling the situation around the forthcoming Belarusian-Russian military drills West-2017.
The minister said the interest of Western countries in obtaining information and an objective assessment of the situation connected with the exercises will serve to reduce tension. However, according to the minister, there is no such sincere and objective interest.
"We are already tired to repeat it, that Belarus has never posed a threat to neighboring states and has no intention to be such a threat," the minister stressed.
The joint military exercise will be held on Sept. 14-20 at six testing ranges in Russia and Belarus, involving about 12,700 troops and 680 combat units.
