MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The Georgian authorities have no plans to allow NATO countries to deploy military bases on Georgian territory after the country joins the alliance, which may happen in 2009, Georgian National Security Council Secretary Konstantin Kemularia said in an interview with the Vremya Novostei newspaper published on Tuesday.

"We will make decisions based on our own strategic interests in order to ensure our security. Georgia has not officially announced any plans to allow foreign countries to deploy bases on its territory," he said.

"It is wrong to artificially blow this topic out of proportion and to offer us neutrality," Kemularia said in response to remarks by Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko, who said that Georgia should be a neutral country.

Georgia's accession to NATO "will not stand in anyone's way. As far as Russia is concerned, it will mean that its neighbor in the south will become a strong, democratic and prosperous state, which will be open to investment," he said.

"Georgia, including its strategic sectors, has already begun receiving major investment from Russia. Georgia seeks to bring its relations with Russia back to normal," he added.