U.S. CALL ON NATO MEMBER STATES TO ACCEPT GEORGIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2008 18:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States is pushing NATO to put Georgia
on a formal track to alliance membership in December, U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday, despite concerns about the
country’s security after its war with Russia.
NATO has promised to grant both Georgia and Ukraine membership
eventually but declined in April to give either a formal membership
action plan, known as MAP.
"I urge our allies to support MAP for Georgia in December and to
support Georgia’s efforts in accomplishing needed reforms," Gates
told reporters on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers’ meeting
in Budapest.
Following the Georgia-Russia conflict in August, some allies want
to delay extending NATO membership to either Georgia or Ukraine,
according to U.S. officials.
But Washington has been at pains to show that Russian actions will
not change U.S. policy and U.S. officials say it should not affect
NATO policy either.
"We are unwavering in our support for Georgia’s sovereignty, its
independence and its territorial integrity," Gates said.
"We have sought a constructive relationship with Russia, but
unfortunately their behavior has undermined security in the region
and raised real concerns about their intentions. Russia’s invasion of
Georgia in my view has achieved, will achieve no strategic objective."
U.S. and Georgian officials will meet in late October to talk about how
Washington can help rebuild the Georgian military. Gates and Georgian
Defense Minister David Kezerashvili met in Budapest but did not discuss
specific weapons systems that Georgia might need, Reuters reports.