Russia Concerned Over US-Georgian Military Accord

(Tbilisi. April 11, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed surprise and concern regarding the reasons and motives of necessity of the US-Georgian military agreement.

The US-Georgian agreement on defense cooperation, ratified by the Georgian Parliament on March 21, allows the US government to occupy mutually agreed territories and buildings in Georgia for use by the US administration?s civilian and military personnel, transport vehicles, vessels and aircrafts.

Russian MFA?s Information Department reported on April 11, that if the agreement is the mean for fight against terrorism than such a move must be agreed with the Russian side as the ?South Caucasian region remains in Russia?s security interests?.

?If such a decisions are taken unilaterally without Moscow?s participation this causes Russia?s concerns,? the Russian MFA says.

Georgian President Shevardnadze said in one of his public speeches last week that the US-Georgian military accord is not directed against the third state.