06.05.2009, 19:16 3157

NATO exercises began in Georgia

The exercises within the limits of the program 'Partnership for the sake of Peace' under the aegis of NATO began in the territory of Georgia, the agency reports citing Lenta.ru.

Almaty. May 6. Kazakhstan Today - The exercises within the limits of the program 'Partnership for the Sake of Peace' under the aegis of NATO began in the territory of Georgia, the agency reports citing Lenta.ru.

According to the Internet-portal, the exercises will be held in two stages from May, 6th till June, 1st on the military base Vaziani. The first phase will consist of command-staff exercises and the second - field exercises. According to BBC News, total number of military men involved in the exercises exceeds one thousand.

27 NATO members and 20 non-member states are taking part in the program 'Partnership for the Sake of Peace'. According to the preliminary data, 19 states planned to take part in the exercises in the territory of Georgia, but later Latvia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Armenia, and Switzerland refused to participate in the exercises.

Russia has opposed carrying out of the exercises in Georgia, motivating it that they assist destabilization of the situation in the region. NATO representatives rejected those suspicions, emphasizing that the exercises will be held without application of heavy arms.

As informed earlier, the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, Danial Ahmetov stated, "We never said that we would take part in NATO exercises in Georgia."

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