DUSHANBE , May 25, Asia-Plus -- Georgia has expressed regret over the necessity to keep its troops in Iraq .

Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Georgy Baramidze, remarked this a meeting journalists in Dushanbe on May 25.  

“We regret that we have to keep our contingent in Iraq .  But this is a necessary measure in the interests of sustaining peace and stability in this country and in the interests of Georgia itself,” Baramidze told journalists, noting that thirty countries have their troops in Iraq and Georgia supports them in settling the tasks set within the framework of the peacekeeping operation in Iraq.  

The Georgian vice-premier also noted that Georgia has repeatedly announced its intention to join the North-Atlantic Alliance.  “ Georgia has determined its precise move towards integration into the European Union and the NATO, although at this stage we are not talking about membership to the European Union,” said Mr. Baramidze, “As far the NATO is concerned, we have finished one of the most important stage of joining – it is the individual plan of partnership with the NATO.”