MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Moscow has conveyed to Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Robert Kvile its concern over Oslo’s growing militarization of the Svalbard archipelago, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"On March 14, during a working meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway Robert Kvile, the Russian side expressed its concern over Norway’s growing militarization of the Svalbard archipelago," the ministry reported.
Moscow also called "on the Norwegian side to abandon any activities that undermine the international legal basis of the archipelago’s status, contribute to the introduction of conflict potential in the territory of Svalbard and the adjacent maritime areas, and lead to an escalation of tensions in the region."
The ministry noted that "contrary to the international legal regime established by the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which provides for the exclusively peaceful development of the archipelago and prohibits the use of its territory for military purposes, the area is increasingly involved in Norway's military and political planning with the participation of the US and NATO."
Thus, "dual-purpose facilities are operating on the archipelago, allowing, along with civilian tasks, to perform military ones, including combat operations on the territory of third countries," the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out.