Russia warns Georgia against joining Nato

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed moves by Georgia's leader to improve ties but warned him yesterday against joining Nato. "As far as Nato expansion is concerned, Putin told (Mikhail) Saakashvili that we see no real reasons for that and warned...

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed moves by Georgia's leader to improve ties but warned him yesterday against joining Nato.

"As far as Nato expansion is concerned, Putin told (Mikhail) Saakashvili that we see no real reasons for that and warned of consequences of such a step to Russia-Georgia relations," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Relations between Russia and Georgia have dipped to near an all-time low since a spy row in October 2006. Georgia arrested a handful of Russian spies in Tbilisi and the Kremlin responded by cutting transport and trade links.

Tensions have worsened because President Saakashvili has steered Georgia towards Nato and European Union membership while Russia supports the two Georgian breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

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