Russia threatens to break with NATO

MOSCOW, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Russia threatened Monday to break with NATO if the Western military alliance admits Georgia into its Membership Action Plan.

"It is one thing to fuss around a U.S. protege (Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili), but quite another to give shelter to an aggressive state," said Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's NATO envoy. "In such circumstances there could be no question of cooperation."

NATO declined at its April summit to admit Georgia to MAP, but said it would review Georgia's application again at its meeting in December, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

Joining the Membership Action Plan is a key step in joining the 26-nation NATO alliance and Georgia comes with strong support from the United States.

Russia would view NATO as siding with an aggressor if the military alliance accepts Georgia, Rogozin said, noting the Russian military entered Georgia last month to keep Georgia from attacking the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which Russia now recognizes, along with Abkhazia, as an independent country.

Russia does not belong to NATO but is one of 24 "partner" counties which consults with NATO on diplomatic and military matters.