U.S. backs Georgia's NATO aspirations
By Jamila Babayeva
The U.S. supports Georgia's aspirations of joining NATO, but it requires the consent of all members of the alliance.
Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Senior Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Benjamin Cardin made the remark to journalists during his visit to Georgia.
"The U.S. believes that NATO plays an important role in ensuring peace and stability," he said. "We strongly support the policy of expanding the military-political bloc in Europe and Georgia's aspirations to join the alliance, although the decision in this regard should be taken by consensus."
Georgia is actively preparing for the NATO Wales summit on September 4-5, 2014 and intends to get a NATO Membership Action Plan.
A U.S. Congress delegation led by Cardin held a meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and President Giorgi Margvelashvili. The sides mainly were focused on the bilateral and multilateral relations, the strategic partnership between the countries, as well as Georgia's association agreement with the EU and global and regional security issues.