TBILISI. Oct 9 (Interfax) - Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasaniya has confirmed plans to build infrastructure in his country to accommodate NATO's needs.
"NATO infrastructure will be created in Georgia. This issue was agreed upon at the alliance's latest summit in Wales," he told reporters on Thursday.
"An appropriate package of proposals presented to Georgia envisages the deployment of NATO infrastructure intended to hold joint exercises in order to bolster our defense potential as a factor deterring the aggression coming from Russia," Alasaniya said.
"It is a decided matter," he said.
The placement of NATO infrastructure in Georgia "will help maintain stability and security in the South Caucasus region," the minister said.
The Georgian authorities forwarded their plans concerning the deployment of NATO infrastructure in the country to the alliance's headquarters on October 6, and Tbilisi expects to receive a reply within a month, he said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Maja Panjikidze, for her part, told reporters that "the measures being taken by the Georgian side to enhance its defense potential and improve the qualification of its Armed Forces are not directed against any other country, but seek to maintain stability and security in the region."
"There are plenty of other factors that are not contributing to stability in the region. We call on Russia to deal with them," Panjikidze said.
Alasaniya told journalists earlier that the action plan offered to Georgia at the Wales summit envisages the establishment of a Georgia-NATO joint training center in Georgia.