Stockholm - Georgia has the full right to hold military exercises on its own territory, Georgian Foreign Minister Gregory Vashadze said Monday.

Vashadze made the remarks at a joint news conference with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. The two foreign ministers said they discussed bilateral issues as well as Sweden's incoming presidency of the European Union as of July 1.

Last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized a planned NATO military exercise in Georgia next month as "muscle-flexing."

"It is a constitutional, sovereign right of Georgia to hold exercises whenever on our territory, together with whomever," Vashadze said.

Georgia, which is seeking future membership in NATO, is expected to host a two-day exercise with some 1,300 soldiers from 19 nations.

Georgia and Russia went to war last August over the breakaway territory of South Ossetia, part of Georgia but which Moscow has unilaterally recognized as an independent territory.

Vashadze said Russia should comply fully and pull back its forces.

However, despite tensions, he said he did not fear "a renewed Russian military attack in the foreseeable future," citing the international criticism of Russia after the August fighting.

Sweden, which is not a NATO member but cooperates with the defence alliance under the auspices of Partnership for Peace (PFP), is not to take part in the May exercise, Bildt said.

Bildt said that an issue during the upcoming Swedish EU presidency will likely concern the role and possible extension of the EU monitors based in the region after the August conflict.

They have contributed to the stability of Georgia, Bildt said.

During the talks the two ministers discussed efforts Georgia has committed to undertake to promote the rule of law, democracy and human rights as well as moves to increase trade and visa agreements.

"Sweden has been one of the most important allies and friends of Georgia," Vashadze said, noting that the Scandinavian nation was Georgia's second largest donor after the United States. (dpa)