Russia calls NATO chief's visit to Caucasus 'attempt to expand alliance's presence in region'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday called NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recent tour to South Caucasian countries an attempt to expand the alliance's presence in the region.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said NATO's appearance in the Caucasus will hardly add stability and predictability to the situation in the region."

"We are well aware of NATO's common aspirations to consolidate its presence in the Caucasus and, as they say, they are visible to the naked eye. There is also an understanding that NATO's attempts to somehow expand its influence and presence are unlikely to add stability to the Caucasus and predictability of the situation," Peskov emphasized.

Moscow is closely following Stoltenberg's visit, but intends to focus mainly on bilateral relations and cooperation with the countries of the region, he said.

Stoltenberg kicked off a three-day, tri-nation tour of the South Caucasus on Sunday. He met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku and then travelled to Tblisi for meetings with Georgian leadership. He met Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan in Yerevan on Tuesday.

Commenting on reports that the EU plans to impose duties on grain from Russia and Belarus, Peskov said the Kremlin will analyze them. "It remains to be analyzed to what extent and in what time frame this will be implemented and whether it will be at all. It is too early to make any conclusions," he stressed.

It has been reported that the EU is preparing to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus to placate farmers and some member states.