(Tbilisi. April 17, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Georgian Foreign Ministry issued statement on April 16 saying that the Russian Duma?s statement on US-Georgian military agreement is ?an attempt to interfere in Georgia?s internal affairs.?
?This kind of moves hinders improvement of the bilateral relations,? the Georgian Foreign Ministry statement reads.
Russian Duma Council, which is the lower chamber of the Parliament, adopted the statement on April 16 with 350 votes to 3, expressing concern over the US-Georgian agreement on defense cooperation.
The US-Georgian military agreement, which was ratified by the Georgian Parliament in March, allows the US government to occupy mutually agreed military facilities in Georgia.
?We are concerned over the agreement, which is seen as a precondition for the US military presence in the Caucasus region, particularly in Georgia,? the Russian Duma Council statement reads.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also expressed concern regarding the US-Georgian military agreement recently, saying such a move must be agreed with the Russian side as the ?South Caucasian region remains in Russia?s security interests?.
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