MINSK. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Belarusian businesses are taking part in the execution of Russian government defense contracts, Russia's Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said.
"One is not to forget that Belarusian enterprises are involved in the work of partial execution of the Russian defense order," Gryzlov was quoted by the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry as saying on a visit to the Belarusian Supreme Court on Thursday.
"Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko, president of Belarus] has said repeatedly that Belarus provides a reliable cover for Russia's back. The Western borders of our Union State are being guarded with our joint efforts. Our air borders are being jointly patrolled as part of a shared military doctrine. In addition, Russia and Belarus have a joint air defense force," he said.
"Certainly, we are serious about creating a battle-ready regional grouping of troops. I will recall that a NATO exercise is currently taking place within ten kilometers from Belarus' border. This is a situation which must be under control, it needs to be taken seriously," Gryzlov said.