NATO did not decide on deploying its forces on the territory of either of the South Caucasian states, Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons stated in Tbilisi. "NATO is not going to commit troops in South Caucasus for the defense of a gas pipeline or any other economic objects. However I do not rule out that the issue may be discussed in future", he stated in response to the reports of some media on the alleged decision by NATO to deploy forces in Azerbaijan for the defense of the Azeri sector of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.