Georgia, US to sign 'strategic' accord

Georgia and the United States will sign a strategic partnership treaty on January 4, the Georgian foreign ministry said yesterday, in a move that risks provoking Russian wrath against Tbilisi again.

"Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze and the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will sign a strategic partnership treaty on January 4 in Washington," foreign ministry spokeswoman Khatuna Iosava said.

The accord risks raising tensions with Russia, which earlier this year fought a brief war with Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.