|
The
new American administration is quite inclined to make a positive contribution to
fast settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus, stabilization of the
situation in the region, asserts the Foreign Minister of Georgia Irakli
Menagarishvili. “The United States quite justifiably consider the region to be
strategically important for the entire world,” he stated in an interview to a
number of Georgian media. The
Minister emphasized that both the personal meeting with the State Secretary
Colin Powell in March in USA and the negotiations between presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia Geidar Aliev and Robert Kocharian, carried out in Florida
in the beginning of April convinced him that the Americans intend to act
strongly. Menagarishvili pointed
out that he conveyed to Powell an invitation from Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze to visit Tbilisi. “Colin
Powell accepted the invitation gratefully and promised to find the time for the
visit,” reported Menagarishvili.
NATO
attributes great significance to naval maneuvers called ”Cooperative Partner
2001” to take place in the territorial waters of Georgia in July in the
framework of “Partnership for Peace” alliance’s program, declared Admiral
of NATO Antonio Dimoc to the Georgian agency Prime News.
In his words, it is very important that international naval forces,
including those of NATO nonmember countries, will be present at the forthcoming
maneuvers. Admiral considers that
the performance of such training provides an example of cooperation and
experience exchange, which is very important for states such as Georgia, to whom
NATO is ready to render full help in the frame of the program by “Partnership
for Peace”. Commenting on the
attitude of Russia to the upcoming NATO maneuvers in the territorial waters of
Georgia, the commander of the Black Sea Navy of the Russian Federation Vladimir
Komoedov declared that Russia was not invited to participate in the practice
movements. According to him, if
such an invitation comes, the commandment will consider it and reach an
appropriate decision. Participation
of over 20 NATO ships and about 15 vessels of Georgian Navy is expected in the
“Cooperative Partner 2001”, which will performed in the water area in the
port of Poti. About 4,000
servicemen, including 700 marine infantrymen as well as naval aviation will be
involved in the maneuvers. The
“legend” of maneuvers is providing assistance to civilian population who has
suffered from a strong earthquake. On
25 April, in Poti, a final conference of party representatives on planning these
maneuvers will be held.
The
Russian party, in turn, declared that the ships of Back Sea Navy of Russia will
not take part in the international maneuvers under NATO aegis, which will be
carried out in June near Poti. The
commander of the Black Sea Navy of Russia Admiral Vladimir Komoedov stated this,
despite the fact that Georgia invited Russian militaries to participate.
|
