Georgia dismisses bases option for possible U.S. attack on Iran

RIA Novosti:

A senior Georgian diplomat rejected a media report Tuesday that the United States was considering using military bases in Georgia for a possible attack on Iran.

"The Georgian Foreign Ministry does not deem it serious to comment on a report in the Israeli media, because this information comes from the realm of fantasy," said Valery Chechelashvili, a deputy foreign minister. He added that Georgia had not held any talks with any country, including the U.S., on the use of Georgian bases and airfields in a military operation against Iran. READ MORE

Georgia's top military officer also denied Monday a report Israel's Jerusalem Post newspaper that the United States was considering using military bases in Georgia in the event of a military conflict with Iran.

"This is utterly absurd," said Levan Nikoleishvili, the chief of the General Staff.

The paper cited an anonymous source in the Georgian government as saying that Georgia could agree to such a scenario despite the threat of retaliatory action from Iran, unrest among Georgia's Muslim minority and a further deterioration in relations with Russia.

Rumors that the U.S. was holding talks with Georgia and Azerbaijan on establishing a military alliance appeared in late 2004 but were immediately scotched by Tbilisi and Baku, Jerusalem Post said.

The Jerusalem Post report came against the backdrop of an escalating crisis around Iran's controversial nuclear programs. Although Tehran has consistently said that it only wants to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, the U.S., Israel and members of the European Union have accused it of pursuing a covert weapons program. Washington has suggested that military action to end Iran's nuclear ambitions has not been ruled out, as both President George Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have said Iran must be prevented from developing nuclear weapons.