Efforts to encourage Georgia to join NATO could have serious consequences for relations between Russia and the Alliance, said Friday the Russian journalists in Brussels the new Permanent Representative of Russia to NATO, Alexander Grushko.
"I am convinced that NATO officials are aware that efforts to integrate Georgia into the Alliance could have serious consequences for Russian-otaniennes," said the diplomat.
According to him, Russia believes that the enlargement of the Alliance is contrary to the idea of setting up a system of collective security in Europe. In addition, the desire to welcome Georgia into NATO is not able to change the relations between Moscow and the former Soviet republics of Georgia who have declared their independence.
"It would be unrealistic to expect that the policy of rapprochement between Georgia and NATO could influence one way or another on our relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as our commitments their protection, "added Mr Grushko.
Cooperation between Georgia and the North Atlantic Alliance began in 1994 with the integration of Tbilisi Action Plan for NATO membership (MAP). After the "Rose Revolution" in 2004, which brought Mikheil Saakashvili to power in Georgia, this cooperation has increased significantly. In October 2004, it took the form of the Action Plan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).
Gathered for an informal meeting in 2006, the foreign ministers of NATO member countries have decided to engage with Georgia Intensified Dialogue (ID) on the aspirations of the country's accession. The NATO summit held in Bucharest in April 2008 reiterated that Georgia and Ukraine would join the Alliance provided to comply with its standards. The same Summit adopted towards Georgia an Annual National Programme (ANP) containing a "roadmap" for detailed membership.
Mid-September 2008, the Georgia-NATO Commission was created to help the country's integration in the Alliance.
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