Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Anders Fogh Rasmussen: “Membership of NATO Is Not Present”

February 23, 2010

On February 22, secretary-general of the NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated during his presentation in GeorgeTown University stated that NATO does not refuse membership of Georgia and Ukraine in NATO. However, active reforms are necessary for it. Rasmussen replied to the question of Georgian student – how fast Georgia will manage to join NATO.

“Membership of NATO is not a present; first of all it is compliance with very strict criteria. These states shall implement reforms and not only in security field,” said Rasmussen.

He reminded the students that during the Bucharest Summit in 2008 NATO made political decision to allow Georgia and Ukraine to join the alliance. But first of all, it depends on Tbilisi and Kiev.

“Both Georgia and Ukraine will become members of the NATO if they comply with all requirements for candidate states. These requirements cover large number of issues and problems. They deal with civil and public reforms alongside the reforms in the defense system,” said Rasmussen. 

Secretary-general added that NATO actively cooperates with Georgia and Ukraine in the regime of double working groups.

Earlier, permanent representative of Russia in NATO Dimitri Rogozin stated Ukraine will not become member of North Atlantic Alliance in near future. Besides that, Rogozin said NATO has exceeded its natural borders in the east.

“Movement beyond the borders is impossible. It will shake NATO-Russian relationship,” said Rogozin.

According to “Ria Novosti”
 
http://korrespondent.net/world/1049975

News