Georgia not Planning Talks on Missile Shield – Minister Says

Georgia is not planning to open talks with the U.S. on building an anti-missile radar site on its soil, Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said in a press release on May 4.

Speculation has been rife since The Financial Times published an article wherein Bezhuashvili said that ?if [the US] came and told us that they want to, we would certainly be willing to talk about it.?

The Financial Times also quoted Bezhuashvili as saying: ?There is no formal application, not even informal talks. But if they [the United States] ask for help, we will talk with them.?

However, the foreign minister has since tried to downplay his remarks. ?In some cases,” he said, his words “were taken out of proper context.?

?In my interview with The Financial Times I stressed that there are no talks underway and there are no talks planned or otherwise envisioned. Therefore, there is no discussion of this matter. To speculate in any manner on this issue would be totally counterproductive,? Bezhuashvili said.

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