PanARMENIAN.Net

Kosachev: Georgia’s quitting CIS anti-missile defense system insignificant
06.05.2008 14:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Georgian Foreign Ministry addressed a note to
the Russian diplomatic mission to inform of its breaking off the
bilateral agreement on cooperation in the anti-missile defense system
concluded on April 19, 1995.

The move followed the shooting down of two Georgian unmanned aircrafts
over the territory of Abkhazia. Meanwhile, Russia accused official
Tbilisi of aggravating tensions in the conflict zone where flights of
warplanes are forbidden.

Earlier, Georgia had seceded from the Council of CIS Defense
Ministers, formally remaining within the unified CIS anti-missile
defense system.

Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Batu Kutelia said that secession is
conditioned by Georgia’s aspiration to NATO.

`The Georgia-NATO agreement on date exchange and airspace control
conflicts with the commitments Georgia undertook to the CIS. Georgia
announced its political line envisaging no participation in CS
military events and we are hopeful that Russia will treat our decision
with understanding,’ he said.

Deputy Secretary of United Russia party’s general council, chairman of
State Duma committee on external relations Konstantin Kosachev that
actually Georgia’s secession is insignificant. This country just tries
to gain political dividends,’ he said, United Russia party’s website
says.

The CIS anti-missile defense system brings together Armenia, Belarus,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine.