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Lukashenko says Belarus army 'risen from its knees'

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The Belarus president said on Tuesday that the country's armed forces had "risen from its knees."
MINSK, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Belarus president said on Tuesday that the country's armed forces had "risen from its knees."

Speaking after joint exercises between the Russian and Belarusian militaries, Alexander Lukashenko said that, "The period of the decline of the armed forces is over. The army we have today has risen from its knees."

The Fall-2008 Russia-Belarus exercises involved around 8,500 personnel, military and special hardware, including over 40 aircraft, more than 60 tanks, around 250 armored vehicles and up to 40 artillery pieces.

"Our armed forces are not designed for offensive aims, but are the guarantee of security and territorial integrity for the state," he added.

He also said that the country's armed forces would meet accepted world standards by 2015.

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