MOSCOW IRKED BY NATO EXERCISES IN GEORGIA

RIA Novosti
BARVIKHA (Moscow Region)
April 17, 2009

NATO’s decision to hold exercises in Georgia next month threatens to
complicate ties with Russia, the Russian president said on Friday.

The Cooperative Longbow 09/Cooperative Lancer 09 command-and-staff
exercise, led by the Western military bloc, will be held from May 6
through June 1, and will not feature light or heavy weaponry.

"Such decisions are disappointing and do nothing to help restore
full-level contacts between the Russian Federation and NATO," Dmitry
Medvedev said.

He warned that Moscow "will be closely watching" the drills and
"if necessary, make appropriate decisions."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed on Thursday NATO’s
exercise plans, saying they could give the Georgian regime a sense
of impunity, and raise tensions in the Caucasus region.

NATO said Russia is welcome to join its military exercises in Georgia,
but from every indication, the invitation has been ignored by Moscow.

The drills are aimed at improving interoperability between NATO and
partner countries, within the framework of Partnership for Peace,
Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative programs.

A total of 19 countries will be participating in the exercises:
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia,
the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Greece, Kazakhstan, Moldova,
Serbia, Spain, Macedonia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Great
Britain, and the U.S.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress