(Tbilisi. April 16, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Russian Duma Council, which is the lower chamber of the Parliament, adopted the statement today 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 statement says that the decision is also regarded to be ?unfriendly step from the Georgian authorities towards Russia.?
The Russian MPs claim that the implementation of the agreement and the further deployment of the US troops in Georgia will lead to Georgia?s membership in NATO and forceful resolution of Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts.
?The US-Georgian military agreement will hinder elaboration of the new framework agreement between Russia and Georgia,? the 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?.
Georgia considers the Russia?s reaction on agreement as an attempt to interfere in Georgia’s internal affairs. Georgian authorities say the agreement does not pose threat to the third countries in the region.
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