Georgia says it will further monitor Russian naval exercises
By Sabina Idayatova
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has announced that Tbilisi expresses
deep concern about the unplanned and sudden exercises of the
Russian military which go beyond the territory defined by the
Vienna Agreement.
Speaking at a briefing on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that Georgia will continue to inform the international community on Russian military exercises being held near the maritime borders of the country.
The Georgian side is distressed with the fact that near its borders large-scale exercises are conducted, with the date of completion and objectives not reported.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the start of
exercises in the Black Sea. It envisage about 7,000 troops, 30
ships, 250 armored vehicles and 50 artillery pieces for different
purposes, up to 20 combat aircraft and helicopters, rapid
deployment forces, airborne troops and Special Forces. The
exercises held in the region, where in less than a year, the
Olympic Games in Sochi to be held. Thus, the security of this
region has been declared a priority for law enforcement bodies and
the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Zalakaliani stressed that Russia has completed naval exercises and
all ships have returned to the place of deployment.
"According to the information received today [Apr.1], all Russian warships returned to the place of deployment and presumably exercises have been completed. However, we are closely monitoring the situation and informing the international community," he said.
Meanwhile, Moscow officially dismissed Tbilisi's condemnation of the Russian military drills in the Black Sea region on Monday, RIA Novosti reported.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich stated that the outgiving made from the Georgian side over threats to regional stability in connection with the Russian military exercises in the Black Sea are groundless and are irrelevant with the statements seeking to normalize relations with Russia.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008.Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.