Kremlin views 'military Schengen' idea as escalation of tensions in Europe

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday criticized NATO's calls for the creation of a "military Schengen" for the bloc, a project to make European transport infrastructure suitable for the passage of heavy and bulky military equipment.

"The alliance (NATO) has always considered our country as a conditional opponent. Now it considers our country an obvious opponent. This is nothing but the escalation of tensions in Europe, which has consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news conference in Moscow.

Commenting on a statement by NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) Chief Lieutenant-General Alexander Sollfrank about the need for a "military Schengen," a free military passage zone similar to the political Schengen zone, Peskov said Moscow views such ideas as "the development of NATO's confrontation with Russia."

The spokesman said the EU ignores Moscow's concerns and the principle of security indivisibility, instead choosing to ensure the continent's security by jeopardizing the security of Russia.

"I want to emphasize once again that it is NATO that is constantly moving with its infrastructure to our border. We are not moving towards NATO infrastructure, (rather) NATO is moving towards us. And this cannot but cause our concerns. And it cannot but lead to retaliatory measures to ensure our security," he emphasized.

When asked about contacts on strategic stability between Russia and the US, Peskov said there is a need for such communications but no agreements to hold them.

Turning to a statement by Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic about his intention to develop relations with NATO, the Kremlin spokesman said "Serbs are under constant pressure."

The official also noted that foreign recruiters work in the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with the goal of finding people to participate in illegal organizations in other countries and regions.

The CSTO states are fighting this challenge together as at the Nov. 22 meeting in Minsk, Belarus, the leaders reiterated their readiness to continue this work.