MOSCOW. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The Russian-Belarusian strategic military exercise Zapad 2017 is a scheduled and defensive one, not aimed against any third countries, the Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov said while meeting with the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Petr Pavel, in Baku on Thursday.
"The Chief of the Russian General Staff has informed in detail the chairman of the NATO Military Committee about the upcoming strategic exercise Zapad 2017, highlighting in particular its scheduled and defensive nature and the fact that it is not directed against any third countries," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"General of the Army Valery Gerasimov has put an emphasis on the exercise's main objective - to ensure the security of the Union State [the Union of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus]," the ministry said.
Gerasimov and Pavel met in Baku to exchange their views on the current situation in the field of international security in Europe and the Middle East, it said.
"The sides agreed to continue contacts," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The Zapad2017 Russia-Belarus strategic exercise will be held on September 14-20. The North Atlantic Alliance earlier expressed concern ahead of the exercise.