Georgia’s Membership in NATO Will Not Hinder Cooperation with Russia – Says Shevardnadze

(Tbilisi, May 19, 2003. Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze gives utmost importance to the recent visit of NATO Secretary General George Robertson to Tbilisi. “Visit by the high-ranking diplomat once again underlines NATO’s positive approach to Georgia. Now our only goal is implementation of the reforms and not only in the military sphere. [The reforms] will speed up the process of Georgia’s accession to NATO” – President said in his traditional Monday Radio Interview.

He said that NATO is giving big importance to the relations, which Russia intends to establish with the organization. Therefore, Georgia’s membership in NATO will not contradict with relations with Russia.

“Membership in NATO is a matter of time. This will not happen next year, but definitely will happen in a very short period of time. I am heading a special commission, which will discuss any issue that might speed up the membership process” – President said and added that conduction of the parliamentary elections in a democratic manner is one of the preconditions and, therefore, the President is calling all parties for cooperation.

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