Georgia doubts Russian military action on exercises

By Patrick Worsnip

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Georgia's foreign minister said on Thursday he doubted Russia would resort to military action in response to planned NATO exercises in Georgia that Moscow has described as a provocation.

In an interview with Reuters, Grigol Vashadze dismissed Russian objections to next month's exercises, saying no country could dictate to Georgia over its "sovereign right" to stage them.

Russia demanded on Thursday that NATO call off the exercises, which it said could undermine its efforts to rebuild ties with the Western alliance. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the war games would not help efforts to restore stability in the restive Caucasus region, Interfax news agency reported.

Ex-Soviet Georgia has become a focus of tension between the West and Russia, which sees it as part of its sphere of influence. NATO's offer of eventual membership for Georgia has angered Moscow, which sent troops into Georgia last August.

Vashadze said that event meant fresh Russian action was "not something unimaginable," but added, "At this stage I would say that Russia would be afraid to undertake a new military aggression against Georgia because it would be entering in confrontation with the rest of the civilized world."

Georgia and Russia accused each other on Thursday, however, of building up troops and armor at the de facto borders between their forces, and preparing "provocations.

Russia says its invasion of Georgia last August was to repel an attempt by Tbilisi to restore Georgian control over the pro-Moscow breakaway province of South Ossetia.

'SOVEREIGN RIGHT'