Zakharova: NATO still working to bring  countries in South Caucasus  under its sphere of influence

ArmInfo. NATO continues its course to bring the countries of the South Caucasus under its sphere  of influence, as stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, during a weekly briefing on May 6.  

The diplomat recalled that since April 28, NATO has been conducting  command and staff exercises on Georgian territory.. "According to the  available information, 17 member countries and partners of the  military bloc, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, are participating in  the event. Thus, the Alliance continues its course of drawing the  republics of the South Caucasus into the orbit of its influence. As a  rule, it is through such formats of interaction that NATO imposes its  own standards, ideology on the regional states, creates conditions  for reformatting their defense complex, exerting control over the  development of their Armed Forces," she said. 

According to her, no one should have any illusions, as any NATO  actions in the South Caucasus are not aimed at strengthening  security, but at creating a zone of instability and  military-political tension.  Zakharova added that the bloc's main  goal is clear - to use the potential and resources of the countries  in the region in the interests of the collective West, particularly  in the context of the geopolitical confrontation with the Russian  Federation. "We hope that the aforementioned republics will  critically assess their participation in such events," Zakharova  concluded.