Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
Georgia paid special attention to NATO's recent Chicago summit. Georgian politicians accepted the fact that in the mid-term NATO wouldn’t worsen relations with Russia in favor of Georgia, but they understand that the current format of relations with the strongest military bloc gives the country certain security guarantees. Ahead of the Chicago summit the minister on Euro-Atlantic integration, Georgy Baramidze, stated: “The process of approaching NATO is as important to Georgia as its result.” Even though NATO is not ready to welcome Georgia as a member, permanent discussion of this topic enables Georgia to be in the agenda list of the alliance.
Of course NATO cannot direct at the main reason for not giving Georgia the road map. At the joint press conference with Mikhail Saakashvili in Chicago Anders Fog Rasmussen repeated, meaning Moscow: “None country has a right to veto extension of the alliance.” But if Georgia is not invited to NATO summits, the world will see that the strongest military union accepts this right for veto by one country at least. So Georgia received special signs of attention in Chicago. Saakashvili and his team participated in three events of the summit: the session of leaders of NATO partners-countries, the session of participants of the NATO operation in Afghanistan, and the meeting of NATO aspirants-countries. The club of aspirants includes also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro. Few people doubt of accession of these countries to the alliance in the next summit in 2014. Thus, in two years Georgia might become the only country-aspirant, and NATO will have to do something with the situation.
The term “NATO aspirant” was created for combining Georgia with the countries that received the road map. When a country gets Membership Acting Plan, it becomes a full candidate for NATO members. The history shows it is a one-way ticket. “Aspirant” is a non-institutional term, so Moscow has no grounds to accuse the alliance of further extension of NATO in the area of exclusive interests of Russia.
The Chicago summit confirmed it. Saakashvili was the only leader with whom the General Secretary held a joint press conference. It seems to be a symbolic sign, and Russian politicians have nothing to worry about. But for Georgia it is a very important symbol considered as a sign of support by the West.
If we put away all symbolic signs and diplomatic phraseology, we will see the only real result of the Chicago summit for Georgia is the agreement between Saakashvili and Ilham Aliyev on free access of citizens of both countries to David Garedzha monastery complex which is situated on the border between two countries.
