Georgia may join NATO "without Abkhazia and South Ossetia"
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes that the Georgian authorities should consider joining the alliance “without Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” RIA Novosti reported.
The resolution of territorial conflicts is one of the criteria for joining NATO. However, after the armed aggression of Tbilisi against Tskhinval in August 2008, Abkhazia and South Ossetia gained independence, which Russia and a number of other countries have recognized.
"If Georgia is to become a future member of NATO, you must continue democratic reforms, fight corruption, ensure freedom of speech and protect the minority ... I believe that you should start discussions on whether it will be acceptable for you to become a NATO member without Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This decision is up to Georgia, after which the decision must be notified to NATO, "Rasmussen said at an international conference in Tbilisi.
The representative of the opposition party "European Georgia" Otar Kakhidze considers Rasmussen’s proposal interesting. He believes that the authorities should consider this issue.
At the same time, the leader of the parliamentary majority, Gia Volsky, said that this was a rather complicated topic.
"There are issues that need the discussion. A general consensus is needed, it does not require additional comments. Neither we, nor a single political force will abandon these territories ... Georgia’s admission to any international organization must take place within the borders recognized by the international community, including NATO, "Volsky told reporters
