GEORGIA CLARIFIES INTENTION TO JOIN NATO…

On June 24, Georgia’s ambassador to the Benelux countries, Zurab Abashidze–who is also the country’s liaison with NATO–underscored Tbilisi’s goal to work toward meeting the criteria for NATO membership. Abashidze set this effort in a medium-term perspective of “some years.” “We do not expect to qualify to join NATO within the next few years; such a claim could be met with irony. What we are talking about is Georgia’s strategic orientation.” Stated in these terms, “Georgia’s goal of acceding to the Atlantic Alliance is being considered with full seriousness by [the alliance in] Brussels,” Abashidze reported (Prime News, June 24).

That statement–more clearly than some earlier ones–reflects a policy on which Tbilisi recently conferred official status. As expressed in a recent interview by President Eduard Shevardnadze, “the more pressure is brought on Georgia, the greater our country’s desire to join NATO. Our country is being prodded toward the alliance by the short-sightedness of our ill-wishers.” Acknowledging the serious economic constraints on Georgia’s ability to modernize its military and qualify for membership, Shevardnadze underscored two interrelated points: first, that Georgia’s eventual accession to NATO is a matter of when, not if; second, that Russia’s behavior can affect the pace of the process. To the question, “when will Georgia join NATO,” Shevardnadze answered: “This fully depends on certain neighbors who are hurrying us toward this step” (Asaval-Dasavali (Tbilisi weekly), June 22-28 issue).

…WILL MODERNIZE AIR DEFENSE…