8 minutes agoNATO rejects Belarus allegations that forces are gathering at border
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)The North Atlantic Alliance today dismissed allegations of President Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, that he was conducting military exercises along the country's western borders -- in Poland and Lithuania -- and stressed that he was closely monitoring the situation following the controversial elections held in Belarus last Sunday. Earlier today Lukashenko said that tanks and planes [...]
Earlier today Lukashenko said NATO tanks and planes were deployed only 15 minutes from the Belarus border.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said no military exercise is under way in the region”.
NATO's multinational presence in the Alliance's eastern members poses no threat to any country. It is a strictly protective presence whose aim is to prevent conflict and preserve peace,” said Lungescu.
She added that NATO is carefully monitoring the development of the situation in Belarus, a country where violent protests have continued since the August 9th elections, which Lukashenko opponents claim were mounted.
Lungescu called for respecting fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful protest.
The Kremlin has warned that Russia was willing to help Belarus comply with the military agreement, if necessary, and that the country was under pressure from abroad.
Western neighbours of Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are members of NATO. The alliance sent four combat brigades to these three countries and Estonia to prevent possible Russian movements after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crime in 2014.
The brigades, led by Britain, Canada, Germany, and the United States, have about 5,000 troops.
Poland signed a joint protection pact Saturday during Secretary of State Mike Pompeii's visit to the country. The United States in accordance with the signed pact will increase the presence of their troops in Poland.
