NATO seen estranging from Georgia, but hopes not fading
By Sabina Idayatova
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Georgia missed its chance for the granting of Membership Action Plan (MAP) at a NATO ministerial, in comments on the results of the alliance's meeting on December 4-5 made during his visit to Warsaw, Azerbaijan's Trend news agency reported.
"I personally received a promise that we will obtain a MAP after the democratic parliamentary elections on October 1," he stressed.
"After the elections we had a chance of receiving MAP by December. I was personally told about it at the very highest level," civil.ge quoted Saakashvili as saying.
He explained the situation with the recent developments in Georgia, saying the arrests of former government officials and other events prevented making expected achievements.
However, Saakashvili still hopes for NATO integration and in his speech he called for collaboration in solving related issues.
"I think if we slightly revise some matters in politics within the country, as well as in our international relations, we will be able to again move forward. That's in the interest of all the political forces regardless of whether we like each other or not. Not to stop Georgia's progress is a very important issue for me, because it is a matter of our people's well-being, our country's existence and security," he said.
Georgia's relations with NATO were established in 1994 when the country joined Partnership for Peace program. 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.
President Saakashvili attended an international conference dedicated to prominent Georgian historian Grigol Peradze as part of his working visit to Poland, the Georgian presidential administration told Trend on Friday.
Saakashvili spoke about Georgia's aspirations toward Europe and its recognition of common European values during the conference. The focal ponts of his speech included reforms in Georgia and the country's achievements.
Saakashvili stressed that progress and development of the democratic process should be continued.
"Georgia will not fall back under Russian influence, as people have already tasted success, democracy and the democratic process of change of power, and this is what is called a European start. People will not give up this development. Our policy is development, peace and opportunities for each inhabitant of the region," Saakashvili said.
The October 1 parliamentary election in Georgia was won by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's opposition coalition Georgian Dream, and was followed by the formation of a new cabinet in which Ivanishvili now serves as prime minister.