Polish Defence Minister: Russia Should Not Worry About NATO Trainings in Poland

Yesterday Polish Minister of National Defence Jerzy Szmajdzinski said that Russia should not be worried about NATO's training sessions on Polish territory. Citing the Minister, Gaseta Vyborcha wrote that 'the training sessions are peace-oriented. Poland is learning to prevent conflicts. This is a peace-keeping operation and Russia could participate too. We are not in the nineties and the Cold War is over. So there is no need to worry about such trainings taking place.' Mr. Szmajdzinski noted that throughout the sessions observers would be holding unofficial meetings concerning NATO expansion, Russia-NATO agreements, and NATO's new strategies and perspectives. NATO manoeuvres Strong Resolve 2002 began on March 1 and will last till March 15. More than 30,000 NATO soldiers will participate at training grounds in Poland, Norway and Baltic Sea.