Iran against Georgia accession to NATO

press tv
Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:53:19 GMT

Iran’s FM Manouchehr Mottaki
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has expressed the Islamic
Republic’s opposition to the accession of Georgia to NATO.

"We believe that NATO involvement would lead the region to
militarization and create undesirable interference," the minister said,
speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on Friday.

Mottaki’s remark came after US President George W. Bush supported
Georgian and Ukrainian membership of NATO last week.

"Today I reiterate America’s commitment to the NATO aspirations of
Ukraine, Georgia,¦" said Bush.

Russia, however, strongly opposes NATO membership for the two former
Soviet republics, which are presently allies of the US.

Mottaki said, "The United States should not interfere in the issue of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two separatist provinces of Georgia whose
independence is recognized by Russia.’

"Washington should not be present in this issue. In the second day of
the conflict [between Georgia and Russia in August], the US signed an
agreement with Georgia to provide the country with missiles," added the
minister.

"We believe that the involvement of extra-regional powers in the
Caucasus will complicate the situation and create rivalries. This will
negatively affect the process of talks," he continued.

Mottaki expressed Iran’s support for regional initiatives aimed at
resolving crises in the region.