MINSK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Wednesday the goals of the Belarusian-Russian military drills West-2017 have been fully implemented.
This declaration was made by Lukashenko after observing the joint exercises, local media reported.
"Training missions have been completed in a quality manner. Under the conditions of modern challenges and security threats, joint defense was practiced at a decent level," Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko said the joint military drills of the two countries are only aimed at protecting national interests.
"The joint military drills and cooperation with Russia in arranging army exercises are not directed against third countries. They serve only to protect our national interests," he stressed.
After the joint exercise, all the troops that participated in the dills will return to the places of permanent deployment, the president said.
The biennially military exercises took place from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20 on the territory of Belarus and Russia.
