Deployment of U.S. military bases will split Georgia, Burjanadze says

Deployment of a U.S. military base in the territory of Georgia may split the country, said Nino Burjanadze, the former speaker of the parliament and leader of the opposition Democratic Movement party, when commenting on the statement by Parliamentary Speaker David Usupashvili.

She called Usupashvili’s idea to bring U.S. bases into the territory of Georgia as harmful. “This idea will split the country into two territories with Russian and American military bases on each,” Burjanadze said.

EADaily reported earlier that in early September, David Usupashvili, the parliament speaker and one of the leaders of the currently oppositional Republican Party, suggested deploying U.S. bases in Georgia as it is of “vital importance” for the security and defense of Georgia. “Before NATO membership becomes reality, Georgia must ensure deployment of U.S. military bases. We think that at present, in 2016, it is of vital importance for Georgia,” he told Rustavi-2.

Presenting the election program of her “Nino Burjanadze – democratic movement” bloc, the politician once again stressed that Georgia needs a non-allied status that, as she thinks, is a guarantee of stability.

“I think a non-allied status is very important to Georgia. The country should not be a polygon of confrontation of two Big Powers – Russia and NATO, Russia and the United States,” Burjanadze said. Only then, she said, Georgia will have normal relations with its neighbors, and Russia, first.