Georgian political analysts see signal to Russia in NATO exercises

The large-scale NATO and Georgia exercises are intended to show the cohesion of the countries of the Alliance in the face of a potential threat from Russia. Moscow's steps in response should be expected, the Georgian political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

According to experts, Georgia is not accepted into the Alliance because of its unwillingness to worsen relations with Russia; and it is possible that in response to a call by the NATO Secretary General, Moscow will respond with "concrete and unpleasant actions."

Mr Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, considers Russia's pressure on Georgia on foreign policy unacceptable, said Giya Nodiya, the founder of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development.

At the same time, according to the official version, Georgia is not ready to join the Alliance due to unresolved territorial conflicts and the insufficiently developed democracy.

According to Mr Nodiya, holding of NATO exercises in Georgia indirectly indicates that the Alliance member-countries, especially the eastern ones, treat Russia as a source of potential danger and an opponent in the "geopolitical competitions."

Irakli Menagarishvili, an expert of the Centre for Strategic Studies, has noted that in response Russia could take actions, mainly concerning Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the border line – this could be the installation of barbed wire and transformation thereof into a full-fledged border, as well as the movement of the line inside Georgia.

Building up cooperation of the NATO and the Georgian Navy poses a threat both to Abkhazia and to neighbouring states, said Mukhamed Kilba, the Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia, the "Sputnik-Abkhazia" reports.