- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Georgia expects Russia's understanding on NATO transit offer

© RIA Novosti . Irina OvchinnikovaGeorgian President Mikheil Saakashvili residence
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili residence - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Georgia confirmed on Monday its offer of military cargo transit for NATO troops in Afghanistan and expressed hope that Russia would not object to this move.

Georgia confirmed on Monday its offer of military cargo transit for NATO troops in Afghanistan and expressed hope that Russia would not object to this move.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told Associated Press last Friday that Georgia had offered its Black Sea ports to NATO military supply ships and its airports as refueling points for NATO cargo planes en route to Afghanistan.

"Georgia is offering a transit corridor, including for military cargoes," Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze reiterated the proposal in an interview with Novosti-Georgia news agency.

Georgia says the proposed transit route from Romania via the Black Sea, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would boost the global as well as its national and regional security and will be less expensive than the existing corridor through Russia.

"We are interested...in contributing to global security. We also believe that these proposals will contribute greatly to Georgia's and regional security," Kalandadze said.

Georgia's desire to join NATO has been central to Saakashvili's foreign policy since he came to power in 2004. The alliance has put Georgia's bid on hold, although it promised to revisit the decision in the future.

Georgia has made a number of contributions to the NATO-led military campaign in war-torn Afghanistan, including the deployment of 900 troops as part of the international coalition fighting Taliban militants.

Some experts believe the Georgian move could unnerve and infuriate Russia because Moscow would not want to see an increased presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea.

The transit of NATO military cargoes via Georgia would also make it harder for Russia to bloc Georgia's rearmament by Western powers following the August 2008 brief war between Moscow and Tbilisi over South Ossetia.

Moscow and Washington are already working closely to establish regular transits of Afghanistan-bound cargoes via Russia.

Kalandadze expressed hope that Russia would show understanding of Georgia's motives and would not object to the proposal.

TBILISI, February 1 (RIA Novosti)

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала