NATO concerned over military drills in Belarus

The ambassadors of 28 NATO member states had a session in Brussels, where they expressed their concern over the military drills held in Belarus in September 2009.

Official NATO spokesman James Apparthurai said this on Wednesday.

According to him, NATO expressed concern over the recent Russian¬–Belarusian military exercise Zapad-2009, which was the largest military drills since the end of the World War II, and over the fact that Russia hadn’t invited any observers to the manoeuvres, which is regarded by NATO as violation of Vienna obligations.

Besides, Appathurai said NATO member states also expressed their concern over the scenario of the Russian–Belarusian drills that simulated an attacking Russia from west.

The Alliance will continue considering these drills and their possible influence on NATO–Russia relations, which are on the way to improving, Appathurai said.

To a question of RIA Novosti he answered the Alliance may request Russia about additional explanations regarding the military exercise.

Russian–Belarusian joint military exercise Zapad-2009 was held on September 18–29. Near 12,500 soldiers, about 6000 Russians and 6500 Belarusians, were involved in the drills. 40 aircrafts and 200 weapon units are used.

Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on November 12 that NATO should turn attention to the Belarusian–Russian military exercises held in September near the Polish border.

Radoslaw Sikorski also said that he had written about that in the letter to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO Secretary General.

As charter97.org website informed, on November 1, British Telegraph with a reference to Polish magazine Wprost wrote that during recent joint Belarusian-Russian military drills West 2009, an amphibious landing on the Polish coast and the firing of nuclear weapons were simulated.

In late October military drills West 2009 was criticized by Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.

“The military exercises near the borders of the Baltic states demonstrate that Russia still uses significant means for struggle with the NATO,” Estonian Foreign Minister said at Riga Conference.

“The drills held by Russia near the borders of the Baltic states were the largest over ten years, and their aim was “to cut off the three Baltic states from the NATO,” Estonian Foreign Minister said.

Latvian Defense Minister Imants Liegis also said that the scenario of West 2009 military exercise included intervention in the Baltic states as a part of freeing “Kaliningrad in blockade”.