NATO chief heads for Georgia in show of support against Russia
(NSI News Source Info) TBILISI - September 15, 2008: NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will arrive in Georgia on Monday, after making strong statements in support of Georgia that have been met with criticism from Russia.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry said the NATO chief, heading a delegation with envoys from all 26 members of the Western military alliance, will also discuss plans for Tbilisi's future NATO membership and meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili.
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued an angry response to De Hoop Scheffer's outspoken criticism of Moscow's actions in Georgia.
"I have of course heard the statements he has made, statements that are inappropriate for the leader of such a serious organization," he said at a news conference with Sergei Bagapsh, the president of Abkhazia.
Russia recognized Abkhazia, along with Georgia's other rebel region of South Ossetia, as independent states after concluding its 'peace enforcement' operation that followed Georgia's August 8 attack on South Ossetia.
The NATO delegation's two-day visit to Georgia will start with a meeting of the NATO envoys, who will once again consider whether to admit the former Soviet republic to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a key step towards full-fledged membership, at the next NATO summit in December.
At a summit in Bucharest in April, NATO members decided against the move, but pledged to review the decision in December. The alliance remains divided on the issue, with the U.S. leading calls for Georgia and Ukraine, another of Russia's former Soviet neighbors, to be admitted to MAP, and several EU members arguing it would unnecessarily provoke Russia.
During his visit, de Hoop Scheffer will also meet with several top government officials, opposition members, and leaders of nongovernmental organizations.
NATO's secretary-general will also pay a visit to Tbilisi State University to meet with students.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in late August that Russia could sever all ties with NATO amid a standoff over the Georgia-Russia conflict. NATO had already suspended cooperation with Russia, saying "business as usual" could not resume until the country withdraws all troops from Georgia.
Russia has blamed Western powers for encouraging Tbilisi's aggression and criticized the alliance for building up forces in the Black Sea and helping Georgia to re-arm in the conflict zone.
Monday, September 15, 2008
NATO chief heads for Georgia in show of support against Russia
NATO chief heads for Georgia in show of support against Russia
(NSI News Source Info) TBILISI - September 15, 2008: NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will arrive in Georgia on Monday, after making strong statements in support of Georgia that have been met with criticism from Russia.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry said the NATO chief, heading a delegation with envoys from all 26 members of the Western military alliance, will also discuss plans for Tbilisi's future NATO membership and meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili.
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued an angry response to De Hoop Scheffer's outspoken criticism of Moscow's actions in Georgia.
"I have of course heard the statements he has made, statements that are inappropriate for the leader of such a serious organization," he said at a news conference with Sergei Bagapsh, the president of Abkhazia.
Russia recognized Abkhazia, along with Georgia's other rebel region of South Ossetia, as independent states after concluding its 'peace enforcement' operation that followed Georgia's August 8 attack on South Ossetia.
The NATO delegation's two-day visit to Georgia will start with a meeting of the NATO envoys, who will once again consider whether to admit the former Soviet republic to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a key step towards full-fledged membership, at the next NATO summit in December.
At a summit in Bucharest in April, NATO members decided against the move, but pledged to review the decision in December. The alliance remains divided on the issue, with the U.S. leading calls for Georgia and Ukraine, another of Russia's former Soviet neighbors, to be admitted to MAP, and several EU members arguing it would unnecessarily provoke Russia.
During his visit, de Hoop Scheffer will also meet with several top government officials, opposition members, and leaders of nongovernmental organizations.
NATO's secretary-general will also pay a visit to Tbilisi State University to meet with students.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in late August that Russia could sever all ties with NATO amid a standoff over the Georgia-Russia conflict. NATO had already suspended cooperation with Russia, saying "business as usual" could not resume until the country withdraws all troops from Georgia.
Russia has blamed Western powers for encouraging Tbilisi's aggression and criticized the alliance for building up forces in the Black Sea and helping Georgia to re-arm in the conflict zone.
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