Azernews.Az

Georgia's primary task and priority is its accession to the NATO and European integration, Interior Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili said in an interview with Lithuanian television, during his visit to Vilnius.

"Our participation in the ISAF mission is of utmost importance and the U.S. appreciates this. Each country has its choice, including Armenia. They have chosen their path and we will not comment on it. They have their own direction. It is their choice and solution. And for us the number one priority is accession to NATO and European integration. In our opinion, our aspiration to NATO and the EU does not conflict with the settlement of relations with Russia. We can combine these interests," Garibashvili said.

The minister also underscored that radicalism is not acceptable to him.

"Normalising relations with neighboring countries is important for us and I think there is nothing special in this. This is not our choice. Georgia is located in the Caucasus and therefore has an important geo-strategic position. From this point of view balanced relations with neighbouring countries are very important," Garibashvili said.

Georgia is currently a candidate for NATO membership and the U.S. is actively supporting its membership bid. 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.