Russia slams NATO on ties with Georgia

MOSCOW, Sep 22 (Reuters) Russia today denounced moves by NATO to forge closer ties with Georgia, saying that any eventual membership of the Western alliance by the ex-Soviet state would seriously threaten Russia's interests.

Yesterday, Reacting to NATO's decision to open an ''intensified dialogue'' with Georgia, the Russian foreign ministry said it was clear this was being viewed by Tbilisi as a big step towards alliance membership.

''If the entry of Georgia into today's untransformed NATO came about, it would seriously affect the political, military and economic interests of Russia and would have a negative impact on the fragile situation in the Caucasus,'' the statement said.

REUTERS DKA HT1650