Kosachev: Georgia's quitting CIS anti-missile defense system insignificant

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.