Russian MPs Discuss Controversial Decree on US-Georgian Military Agreement

(Tbilisi. April 16, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Russian Duma Council, the lower chamber of the Parliament discussed today the draft of decree criticizing the US-Georgian military agreement, ratified by the Georgian Parliament in late March.

The agreement allows the US government to occupy mutually agreed military facilities in Georgia.

The draft of the decree proposed by the group of the Russian MPs calls the Russian government to revise Moscow’s policy towards the Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which seek for “associated membership” in Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed concern regarding the US-Georgian military agreement, saying such a move must be agreed with the Russian side as the ?South Caucasian region remains in Russia?s security interests?.

Georgian considers the Russia?s reaction on agreement as an attempt to interfere in Georgia’s internal affairs. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Kakha Sikharulidze said on 11 April “if this statement is issued, Tbilisi will consider it interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”