Officials from both Georgia and Russia traded accusations that the other is building up forces along the border between Georgia and the enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, with each saying the other is preparing “provocations.”
European Union monitors confirmed additional Russian troops and hardware near the border recently, but said that the Abkhazia forces had already moved back. Russian officials described the buildup as “precautionary measures to ensure security” during a tense periods, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko saying they were meant to dissuade Georgia from launching another military action to draw attention away from opposition protesters calling for Georgian President Saakashvili’s ouster.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also criticized the planned NATO military exercises to be held in Georgia next month, saying they wouldn’t “send the right signal to those sincerely wishing to achieve stability in the Caucasus.” Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his nation had every right to stage the war games, and doubted that Russia would resort to military action to stop them.
A brief August war between the two nations led to Russian recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent nations, though Georgia and many Western nations have refused to recognize them. Georgia is a prospective NATO members, though questions about its crackdowns against opposition groups have stalled its entry.
Georgia must think they are going to be a NATO member if NATO troops are going to be marching around Georgia . This will really suprise me if this happends . After what NATO did toYugoslavia you would think NATO would try to lay low for a while . I dont think Russia's is going to keep playing war games with NATO . Chinia has said they have not forgotten or forgiven what happend to them in Belgrade . This kinda sounds like Chinia would like to get even . I would not blame Russia or Chinia if they pulled some trickery on NATO . I dont understand what or why NATO even exists any more other than to antagonize Russia and Chinia . I know I will never forgive NATO and all their lies in Yugoslavias dismemberment .