U.S. general wants Russia to open up major exercise to observers
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-military-exercises-idUSKBN1684CE?il=0The U.S. Army's top European commander on Wednesday called on Russia to open its major military exercise later this year to observers to assuage the anxieties of its neighbors.
Russia has unveiled plans to stage its Zapad 2017 exercise near its western borders this autumn but has not said how many troops will take part.
Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said the Baltic countries were concerned about the exercise and called on NATO for additional security measures.
"For me, Zapad represents an opportunity for the Russians to demonstrate that they are committed to security and stability in Europe also through transparency, by inviting media, by inviting observers, more than the minimums required by Vienna, to demonstrate, to show what's going on, to be transparent," U.S. lieutenant general Ben Hodges told reporters in Vilnius.
"That would be the first and most important thing," he added. "I think that would lower some anxiety".
