Moscow hostile rapprochement between Georgia and NATO

Efforts to encourage Georgia to join NATO could have serious consequences for relations between Russia and the Alliance, said Friday the Russian journalists in Brussels the new Permanent Representative of Russia to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"I am convinced that NATO officials are aware that efforts to integrate Georgia into the Alliance could have serious consequences for Russian-otaniennes," said the diplomat.

According to him, Russia believes that the enlargement of the Alliance is contrary to the idea of ​​setting up a system of collective security in Europe. In addition, the desire to welcome Georgia into NATO is not able to change the relations between Moscow and the former Soviet republics of Georgia who have declared their independence.

"It would be unrealistic to expect that the policy of rapprochement between Georgia and NATO could influence one way or another on our relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as our commitments their protection, "added Mr Grushko.

Cooperation between Georgia and the North Atlantic Alliance began in 1994 with the integration of Tbilisi Action Plan for NATO membership (MAP). After the "Rose Revolution" in 2004, which brought Mikheil Saakashvili to power in Georgia, this cooperation has increased significantly. In October 2004, it took the form of the Action Plan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

Gathered for an informal meeting in 2006, the foreign ministers of NATO member countries have decided to engage with Georgia Intensified Dialogue (ID) on the aspirations of the country's accession. The NATO summit held in Bucharest in April 2008 reiterated that Georgia and Ukraine would join the Alliance provided to comply with its standards. The same Summit adopted towards Georgia an Annual National Programme (ANP) containing a "roadmap" for detailed membership.

Mid-September 2008, the Georgia-NATO Commission was created to help the country's integration in the Alliance.

Georgia reaffirms Ivanichvili moving toward Euro-Atlantic integration

Bidzina Ivanichvili, head of the opposition coalition Georgian Dream won legislative October 1, said Tuesday after a meeting with President Mikheil Saakashvili they were both for the approximation of Georgia NATO and the EU.

"In this regard, our ideas coincide. European integration and Euro-Atlantic strategy," said M.Ivanichvili, quoted by News-Georgia.

He added that in some time, Georgia will not fail to become a member of NATO.

The meeting between the President of the country and M.Ivanichvili was held in the framework of the transfer of power following the victory of Dream Georgian parliamentary elections. The United National Movement party of President Saakashvili announced that it would in opposition after the start of construction of the new parliament.

Monday, M.Ivanichvili released the list of candidates for ministerial posts in the new government. As of Tuesday, representatives of Georgian Dream began to work as observers in all state structures.

Moscow Says NATO Failed To Learn Lessons Of 2008 War With Georgia

Reiteration by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen that Georgia would join the alliance, encourages Georgia’s “revanchist aspirations”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 10.
The statement was a reaction to Rasmussen’s remarks when he visited Tbilisi on September 10, telling Georgia: “The future is in your hands. But know this: you have a friend in NATO – and a future home in NATO.”
While noting that such statements “contain no new elements” and represent reiteration of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit decision that Georgia will join the alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that such remarks were showing that NATO kept on “sending ‘encouraging’ signals to Tbilisi”, indicating that the alliance “failed to learn the lessons of the tragic events of 2008 in South Caucasus.”

Georgia – Russia Relations

It said that promoting the issue of Georgia’s NATO membership “does not strengthen anyone’s security,”
“It encourages revanchist aspirations of the Georgian leadership, fueling its reluctance to recognize political realities in the region and increases tensions in the South Caucasus,” the Russian Foreign Ministry sai

Reinsalu: Estonia supports Georgia Striving Towards NATO Membership

Estonian Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu met with Georgian Ambassador to Estonia Ruslan Abashidze, with whom bilateral defence cooperation, Georgia’s relations with NATO, and the general development of the country were discussed.

At the meeting, Minister of Defence Reinsalu declared that Estonia continuously supports Georgia striving towards NATO membership. “Georgia continues to be an important partner for NATO. Also, it is important that the Georgian parliamentary elections in October be honest and transparent,” Reinsalu added.

The Minister of Defence also declared that Estonia highly appreciates the continuation of ties with Georgia, regardless of the economic difficulties. “Estonia has contributed a great deal towards strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities, mainly through defence-related education. The basic training courses, in both Estonia and Georgia, have increased the defence capability of both countries,” Reinsalu said.


Georgian Ambassador Abashidze thanked Estonia for the support and cooperation shown in the development of national defence in Georgia.

Estonia’s main courses of action in cooperation with Georgia are the provision of military education and training, and counselling in the development of capabilities required for national defence.

The Georgian Embassy was opened in Tallinn in April 2007. Ruslan Abashidze, who assumed office in 2009, is the first Georgian Ambassador to Estonia.