Belarus continues to ensure its information transparency and openness. In summer, the country gave the OSCE participants every detail regarding the concept, scenario, main goals and tasks of the maneuvers, as well as the places and means that will be used. The official Minsk sent invitations to Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden, and Norway to come to Belarus and observe the drills.
Dmitry Mironchik, the Head of the Department of Information - Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus:
"Invitations were sent to representatives of the military diplomatic corps of foreign countries accredited at the embassies of their states in Belarus. Although the Vienna Document does not require countries to invite international observers to military exercises, representatives of the UN, OSCE, NATO and other international agencies were invited to observe the active phase of Zapad 2017."
As stated by both Minsk and Moscow, the drills are purely defensive in nature. Applications for accreditation for its coverage have been received from news agencies and TV channels from all the neighbouring countries, as well as from the media of another 14 states.
