President Says Failure to Ratify US-Georgian Military Accord Inadmissible

(Tbilisi. March 3, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Georgian President slammed the Parliament today for postponement of ratification of the agreement between US and Georgia on defense cooperation.

“I do not understand some of the MPs’ point of view regarding this agreement. Do not they [MPs] understand the importance of the agreement with the US, which assists Georgia financially and supports us politically? It is inadmissible,” Shevardnadze said in his Monday radiobroadcast on March 3.

On February 27 Georgian Parliament failed to ratify the agreement and decided to postpone discussion of the document. The part of the MPs said the document would discriminate Georgia’s sovereignty.

According to the agreement the US military personnel may enter Georgia without visas and passports. They may also “posses and carry arms in Georgia, as required by the performance of their duties or authorized by their orders”.

Shevardnadze expressed hope that the Parliament will discuss the issue as soon as possible and ratify this agreement.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations Zviad Mukbaniani told Civil Georgia today that the Parliament’s refusal to ratify military accord “will hinder implementation of the US-funded Georgia Train-and-Equip program.”