NATO is to blame for Russo-Georgian tensions: Lavrov

3 May, 2008 04:49 / Updated 16 years ago

Russian Foreign Minister says he believes Georgia's plan to join NATO is the reason behind the country's reluctance to settle its disputes with Russia. During the NATO summit last month the alliance assured Tbilisi that it would be accepted for membership

Russia says it closed down its military bases in the country on the understanding that Georgia wouldn't open any other military bases, according to a previous agreement. Sergey Lavrov says Tbilisi hasn't kept to the terms as it's yet to pass a law prohibiting a foreign military presence.