Azerbaijan, Baku, April 30 / Trend , E.Ostapenko/
Russia's agreement with unrecognized Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the joint protection of borders of these regions will not affect the NATO-planned military exercises in Georgia, the press office of NATO told Trend on April 30.
"Nothing has change, the exercise is going to take place," the same source said.
"Russia will protect the state border of South Ossetia and Abkhazia until formation of border services of these countries," mentioned in the agreements signed by Russia with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on April 30. Agreement was signed for five years, and will be automatically prolonged for other five years.
Russia continues to claim that they have been surprised by the exercise, even though they have been informed fully from the beginning about the planning stages and Russia continues to refuse the continued invitations to send observers to the exercise, the press service said.
NATO military exercises are planned to take place in Georgia, seeking an alliance, in early May. NATO planned to use in training 1,300 soldiers from 19 countries and hold them to 20 kilometers east of Tbilisi in order to improve coordination amongst the alliance members and their partners.
Russia recently offered to cancel or postpone the NATO military exercises in Georgia, calling it a provocation at a time when anti-presidential actions continue in the country.
This is another in a series of actions that contravene the agreements of 12 August and 8 September negotiated by the European Union
The basic obligation of Russia in the Russian-French agreement on security, reached by the Presidents of the two countries Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy on 12 August and 8 September last year, is the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Georgia.
In accordance with the same agreement, the European Union assumed guarantee on non-use of force by Georgia, placing its observation mission in the areas close to South Ossetia and Abkhazia since October 1, 2008.
"Fact actions by Russia are not in the interests of long-term peace and stability for all people of the South Caucasus region," the press office said.
NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and calls on Russia to fulfill its commitments in regards to Georgia, the same source said.
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