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NATO's attempts to expand influence in Caucasus will not add to stability — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that Russia intends to mainly focus on the bilateral relations and cooperation tools that it maintains with the countries of the region

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. The North Atlantic Alliance's attempts to expand its presence in the Caucasus are "visible to the naked eye," Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media.

"NATO's wish to assert its presence in the Caucasus is well known to us. Its attempts are visible to the naked eye. Also, there is an understanding that, in fact, NATO's attempts to somehow expand its influence and presence are hardly capable of adding to stability in the Caucasus and predictability of the situation," he said, while commenting on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's tour of the Caucasus.

At the same time, the Russian leader's spokesman pointed out that the Caucasus countries enjoyed a "sovereign right" to such contacts.

"Of course, we are closely watching them, but we intend to mainly focus on our bilateral relations and cooperation tools that our country maintains with the countries of the region," Peskov added.

Stoltenberg is currently in Yerevan on an official visit. He visited Azerbaijan on Sunday and Georgia on Monday.

Tags

Foreign policy Dmitry Peskov NATO

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