02 June 2008, 20:13
USA and NATO are concerned with deployment of Russia's railway battalion in Abkhazia
The USA and NATO are worried about the deployment of the railway troops of the Russian Ministry of Defence in Abkhazia, and think that such actions will not lead to improvement of Russian-Georgian relations.
"A question arises: if the territorial integrity of Georgia is recognized, how can another country send its troops there? I don't think any of NATO members would like such steps here. I doubt they will help to settle the problems and improve the atmosphere," said a source from the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO emphasizes that, according to media, the troops in question are not peacemakers but regular servicemen of the Russian railway troops, the RIA "Novosti" reports.
The May 31 statement of the US Department of State runs that the States are alarmed with the news of the Ministry of Defence of Russia about sending additional armed forces, including railway troops, without coordination with the government of Georgia.
According to Sean McCormack, official spokesman of the US Department of State, the Department has conveyed its concern to the Russian government and now keeps close contact with the Georgian leadership, the ITAR-TASS reports.
