Georgia shocked by US president's statement

Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

US President Barack Obama commented on the long-term efforts of Tbilisi to join NATO or at least approach the alliance and stated that neither Georgia nor Ukraine are currently on the path to NATO membership.

Let’s note an important difference between Georgia and Ukraine, which Obama didn’t mention. While Kiev under Yanukovich rejected its intention to become a full member of NATO, the Georgian government either under Saakashvili or under Ivanishvili-Garibashvili declares that its strategic goal is to join NATO. A tactical goal of the Georgian authorities is to get MAP at the upcoming summit in autumn.

And suddenly – a cold shower from the leader of the main NATO country! What did President Obama say? He didn’t repeat an idea which has been voiced by Secretaries General of NATO many times that “doors of our alliance are open for Georgia, but to reach them you should take a long path.” Obama made it clear that neither today nor tomorrow will Georgia join the alliance.

How can the American president’s words be interpreted in another way?

Despite all efforts in recent 25 years, following the pro-Western course under all three previous presidents, rejection of any compromises with Russia in this matter, the referendum of 2008 which confirmed 67% of citizens want to join the alliance, participation of small Georgia in the Afghan operation of NATO and numerous losses in fights against Talibs, the US President states that Georgia not only reaches no closeness to the alliance, but also is not “currently on a path to NATO membership.” Even the most bitter-end pro-Western people feel a contradiction, when the reality is so painful that nobody wants to deal with it, but at the same time it is so clear that it is stupid to try not to see it.

However, many representatives of the Georgian elite agree on this. Not only representatives of the United National Movement, Saakashvili’s party, but also representatives of the Georgian Dream say that Obama “didn’t mean that” and “he was misunderstood or misinterpreted.” How can be interpreted “Neither Ukraine or Georgia are currently on a path to NATO membership"?

The statement influenced the public opinion in Georgia. However, specificity of the Georgian situation is that these moods are not structured, i.e. there are no political forces in the country, which are ready to use the public attitude and general disappointment. The only serious politician who is carefully moving toward it is the former speaker of the parliament Nino Burdzhanadze. Commenting on Obama’s statement, Burdzhanadze urged compatriots to realize the reality: “Georgia has no choice. If we don’t conduct a dialogue with Russia, who will provide security for our country?”