Azernews.Az

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has signed 'The Strategic Defence Review for 2013-2016' on May 24 which determines the development strategy of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of the country until 2016.

The purpose of the directions highlighted in the strategy is to increase the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Georgia and their approximation to NATO standards.

According to the document, accession into NATO is the main priority of Georgia's foreign and security policy.

The paper also mentions that 'the failure by Russia to meet international obligations undertaken with regards to the ceasefire agreement, absence of international peacekeeping forces in the occupied territories and the militarisation of these areas increases the risk of provocation. Georgia's aspiration into the Euro-Atlantic structures is unacceptable to Russia which increases the risk of future threats'.

'A pragmatic approach of the Government of Georgia to Russia's position as well as consultations initiated between the parties in December 2012 causes expectations for some positive results', the document says.

According to 'The Strategic Defence Review for 2013-2016', the international Geneva talks remain one of the forms of discussion of the consequences of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war.

The Geneva talks were convened after the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008 in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of August 12.

Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia after their August 2008 war over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia lost one-fifth of its territory after the two republics broke away. Tbilisi announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.