Russia Concerned by Possible Accelerated Membership of Georgia in NATO

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Special Representative of the Georgian Prime Minister for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze met in Prague on June 13. The sides discussed various issues related mainly with trade, economy, humanitarian and cultural aspects of bilateral relations.

Grigori Karasin said before the meeting that Russia is concerned about possible accelerated membership of Georgia in NATO. According to him, it will affect the country’s relations with Russia.

“US Secretary of State Mike Pompey has openly stated that Georgia’s NATO membership should be accelerated. To our mind, this will have catastrophic effects on our relationship”, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia stated.

Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze responded to the statement made by Karasin about Georgia's NATO membership.

“Russia should not talk about NATO-Georgia relations in a threatening tone”, Zurab Abashidze said.

Abashidze believes that NATO-Georgia relations are the country’s sovereign choice and no one has rights to dictate or change its diplomatic course.

“Our relations with NATO and other international organizations, this is our sovereign right, sovereign choice. This is totally unacceptable for us when Russia’s representatives make some statements in a threatening tone,” Zurab Abashidze stated.

By Ana Dumbadze