Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 30 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva, T. Jafarov, N. Kirtzkhalia /
Georgia's territory is unlikely to be used as the U.S military springboard against Iran, the experts said.
"The military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran promises nothing good to Georgia," expert Soso Tsiskarishvili told Trend today. "Tbilisi must take a neutral position. The U.S. support in this issue would be Georgia's biggest folly."
In an interview with the Georgian edition "Asmaval-Dasavali" today Georgian ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze said that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during a meeting with U.S President Barack Obama will propose Georgian territory as a military springboard against Iran in case of war.
"This opportunity must be excluded as even the initiative of proposing Georgia as a military springboard must be removed," Tsiskarishvili said.
Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili will today meet with U.S. President Barack Obama.
President Saakashvili will likely to explain his willingness to these actions by the desire to protect the country from "the Russian military threat", the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" reported. The information that Georgia will be able to become a base for U.S. armed forces is confirmed by the amounts that Washington has recently spent on the reconstruction of military aerodromes in Vaziani, Marneuli and Batumi port, the article says.
Georgian conflictologist Paata Zakareishvili said that Georgia will be most loyal to the U.S. compared to Turkey and Iran's other neighbors in case of war, "Kommersant" reported.
Georgian expert Soso Tsintsadze said that military confrontation near the borders of the countries promises nothing good to Georgia. "Georgian diplomacy must remain calm," he told Trend. "If there is a chance, it must play a constructive role in terms of diplomatic flexibility."
Iranian expert on the Caucasus Hassan Behishtipur said that Georgia's ousted President Eduard Shevardnadze raises the questions today that may downgrade Georgian incumbent President Mikhail Saakashvili's rating.
"It is necessary to understand that today Mr Shevardnadze has unrestricted access to political information and security issues," the Iranian expert told Trend on Monday.
Mr Behishtipur said if the U.S. decided to attack Iran they would try to use territories of the countries bordering on Iran.
From this point of view Georgia will not be able to help the U.S. in attack on Iran, he said. "The U.S. may attack Iran with the help of aircraft carrier in the Indian ocean. Taking it into consideration, the Georgian territory is of no interest in terms of military operation against Iran," deputy head of the Iranina Press TV channel Mr Behishtipur said.
Mr Tsintsadze said in case the war begins the Georgian government will have to take care to decrease to the minimum diplomatic and economical losses in relations with Iran.
"Georgia should take neutral position. The U.S. is our ally and Iran is our neighbour with huge economic potential. We should keep in mind that it is Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates and not the U.S. that are interested in the aggravation of this conflict and closure of the Iran dossier," Mr Tsintsadze told Trend.
Mr Behishtipur said Iran and Georgia have good relations and Tbilisi understands to what consequences decision to assist the U.S. in its military operation against Iran may lead.
Escalation of tension over Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the U.S. may lead to military actions.
Head of Pentagon has already warned Iran against any attempts to block Strait of Hormuz, which is a very important communication on the way of oil and gas export from the Gulf.
Mr Panetta said in his interview with the U.S. channel Washington will not accept Iran's this move.
Iran threatened to block the strait in case the EU introduces embargo which has been in effect since mid Jan.