NATO has ignored the threat of Russia in connection with exercises in Georgia.

NATO military exercises in Georgia, scheduled for May, will take place in any case, said an official of the Alliance Appaturay James, which cites "Interfax". Earlier in Moscow said that Russia will cancel the joint meeting with NATO at the military level, if the exercises did take place.
"The exercise of NATO program" Partnership for Peace "in any case take place, none of the 20 countries declared their participation, while not formally refused," - said Appaturay.
Appaturay as ITAR-TASS news agency, also noted that the Alliance has invited to the teachings of the Russian observers, but Moscow rejected the proposal. According to him, the exercises in Georgia are planned in 2008 and the Russian side was informed about the preparations for them.
The representative of NATO has also said that if Russia did decide to send their observers to the exercises, the Alliance is to be applauded. He acknowledged receipt of the message of the Russian NATO Dmitry Rogozin postpreda to defer these teachings, but emphasized that this letter does not change the intentions of the alliance to conduct exercises.
The multinational NATO exercise Cooperative Longbow 09/Cooperative Lancer 09 within the framework of "Partnership for Peace" will be held in Georgia on 6 May to 1 June. Is expected that the exercise will be attended by more than a thousand troops from the Alliance and its allies.
NATO claimed that the exercises are aimed at ensuring the compatibility of the Alliance and partner countries in peacekeeping and antiterrorist operations. Reported that the heavy weapons in the exercises will not participate.
However, Russia insists that the choice of place and time of the exercises is very unfortunate. In Moscow, in particular, emphasize that the war in South Ossetia in August 2008 was preceded by similar exercises.
In addition, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that these maneuvers may have an adverse impact on NATO's relations with Russia. Later it became known that, in connection with exercises in Georgia, Moscow has refused to participate in scheduled for May 7 meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the level of chiefs of staff.