Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgia has chosen its own path of integration into NATO and has no intention to give it up, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said while commenting on a statement of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev over the expansion of the alliance.

"Our people -- more than 75 percent -- have called for NATO membership as a guarantee of our security, and we fulfill this order, aspiring toward the alliance," Alasania said.

Russian PM Medvedev recently made clear Russia cannot turn a blind eye to NATO's enlargement, especially close to its borders.

"We cannot ignore the fact thatNATO is an alien formation and structure with military potential, which can be used against our country if the developments take a course that is undesirable for us," rustavi2.com website quoted Medvedev as saying.

Medvedev said that NATO membership of the countries bordering Russia creates a new situation from the point of view of providing stability and finally, changes the parity of the distribution of powers.

Minister Alasania said that good-neighborly coexistence with Russia in the future is quite possible and Georgia's new authorities are doing everything possible to improve the relations with Russia.

Alasania is in Brussels to attend a NATO ministerial. Within the visit, the Georgian minister met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Georgia's Ministry of Defense reported on June 5 that the sides discussed the ongoing reforms in the defense sector and highlighted the importance of Georgia's participation in the ISAF mission.

The NATO Secretary General reaffirmed support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

He said further, "Georgia's participation in NATO operations in Afghanistan is very important. Among non-NATO member countries participating in the ISAF mission, Georgia has made the largest contribution. We particularly appreciate it."

Rasmussen also called on the Georgian government to respect the rule of law, human rights and ethnic minorities, to implement substantial reform and hold free and fair presidential elections later this year.

"Stable and democratic Georgia belongs in the Euro-Atlantic community. I am looking forward to Georgia's accession into the alliance. The decision adopted at the Bucharest NATO summit remains in force. Georgia will join NATO as soon as it meets our criteria," Rasmussen said.

During the visit, Alasania earlier met with NATO's envoy for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai. The meeting was closed for the media.

"Georgia will become a NATO member, but it is too early to talk about dates," Alasania said after the meeting.

The issues of future cooperation between Georgia and NATO, including Georgia's participation in the new mission in Afghanistan after 2014, were discussed at the meeting.

Alasania familiarized the NATO representative with the reforms in Georgia's defense system.

"We clearly know how we should participate at the NATO summit next year, and what steps need to be taken in terms of reforming the defense and justice systems. Political reforms, whose implementation has been started by the government, are one of the main conditions for Georgia to meet the standards for NATO membership. NATO supports Georgia's integration very firmly," Alasania said.

In turn, the NATO official said Georgia is a special partner for the alliance, which is proven by the creation and work of the NATO-Georgia commission.

Accession to NATO is one of the top foreign policy priorities of Georgia. Soon after the declaration of independence, Georgia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Georgia's bilateral relations with NATO were established in 1994 when the country joined the Partnership for Peace program (PfP). At the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in 2006 it was decided to launch Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues with the South Caucasus republic.

Georgia as a significant contributor to Euro-Atlantic security is closely involved in NATO-led operations and its contribution to the ISAF operation in Afghanistan is of significant importance. Presently Georgia is the second largest troop contributor to Afghanistan among the non-NATO states.