Saakashvili: NATO, U.S. Troops will not be Deployed in Georgia

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili reiterated on July 2 on the eve of the talks with his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin, that Georgia will host neither NATO, nor U.S. troops on its soil.

?NATO troops, including those of the United States will not be deployed on the Georgian territory,? Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing in Moscow on July 2.

Russian and Georgian officials admit that security-related issues are the reasons for the current controversy, which persists over finalizing the framework agreement between the two countries.

Tbilisi opposes Moscow?s demand to include a provision in this agreement which will ban Georgia from accepting any foreign military base on its soil; however Georgian authorities always claim Tbilisi will not host foreign military bases.