Appathurai: “Georgia could anticipate increased support”
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A positive report of Georgia and the success of its recent local elections could play an important part in the country’s future relationship with NATO.
NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, James Appathurai told Georgia Public Broadcaster Georgia could anticipate more support from the alliance but could not say whether that would be in the form of a Membership Action Plan (MAP).
When speaking about information published by Reuters, Appathurai said the package Georgia could receive instead of a MAP "could involve many elements” that were positive for the country.
Reuters wrote NATO appeared likely to settle on a compromise by giving Georgia a package of "reinforced cooperation" with NATO that would fall short of MAP.
"This package could include measures such as closer political cooperation, training the Georgian Armed Forces and strengthening NATO's liaison office in Georgia,” read the article.
Appathurai said Georgia could anticipate more support but added NATO ministers had not started to discuss Georgia’s report, which was very positive largely because of the recent elections.
"I am sure that we will be more connected. Georgia has to anticipate more NATO representatives and more opportunities for closer relations. I am also sure that there will be more cooperation, but what has been written about the progress Georgia has achieved so far will be discussed by ministers this week,” Appathurai stated.
He said the draft version of the statement would be ready two weeks before the NATO Summit, which is planned to be held in Wales this September.
"So we have got still time,” Appathurai added.
Head of the NATO Alliance Office in Georgia, William Lahew, believed the differing perspectives of NATO member countries was complicating the decision to grant Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the NATO Summit in Wales.
In an interview with Reuters, Georgia’s Minister of Defence said he was hopeful the country would receive a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to further its relationship with NATO at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales.
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