NATO: There cannot be shortcuts for Georgia
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There are no shortcuts in gaining a Membership Action Plan (MAP) and Georgia is not seeking them, says a NATO regional representative.
James Appathurai, NATO secretary general’s special representative for Caucasus and Central Asia said it was too early to speculate whether Georgia would receive a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the NATO Summit in September but said Georgia was on the right path.
He suggested Georgia should stay focused on ongoing reforms that will enable country to live up to the duties resulting from the membership.
"There cannot be shortcuts and Georgia is not seeking them,” Appathurai commented to EurasiaNet.org.
He said it was too early to speculate on what will be decided at the NATO Summit this September in Wales, United Kingdom, with regards to being offered a MAP.
On Wednesday an unidentified source at NATO’s headquarters told Russian media Kommersant that if Crimean residents voted in the March 16 referendum for the Crimea peninsula to become part of the Russian Federation, Georgia may be granted a MAP at the upcoming NATO Summit.
However, Appathurai told Imedi TV NATO had definitely reached a significant progress in negotiations with Georgia "but I don't think we should link Ukraine’s crisis to Georgia’s membership of NATO”.
If Crimea becomes part of Russia, Georgia could obtain a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at an official NATO meeting in September.
Georgia has gained the support of Republican and Democratic parties within US Congress in its journey to closer ties with NATO.
A confidential document detailing Georgia’s path to becoming a member of NATO has been approved by Government officials.
A film rejecting Georgia’s European integration desires and favouring a connection closer to Russia was the cause behind a mid-city clash between pro-Russian and pro-Western supporters in Tbilisi today.