MOSCOW: US spy planes are stepping up flights over Russia’s border along the Caucasus mountains before a visit to the region by President George Bush, but Moscow is unworried, the head of Russia’s air force said on Wednesday.
“Flights by American U-2 spy planes in the Caucasus region, including on the border with Georgia, have recently increased,” Gen Vladimir Mikhailov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
“These flights do not cause us particular concern.” According to Gen Mikhailov, the flights are not to spy against Russia, but part of security measures for Mr Bush, who visits Moscow on Sunday, then goes to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, on Monday.
He said particular attention was being paid by the high-altitude U-2s to possible Chechen guerilla bases on the Georgian side of the mountains, but did not explain the source of this information.—AFP
