After the Russia-NATO summit it was said that relations between the parties experienced a breakthrough. It was announced that NATO is not a threat to Moscow yet and counts on a strategic partnership with Russia. Meanwhile, just before the summit, US President Barack Obama met Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and expressed his total support.
On the day Obama only met with the presidents of Afghanistan and Georgia. That gave Saakashvili grounds to hint to journalists that Georgia is very important to American foreign policy.
During the meeting Obama expressed his gratitude to Saakashvili for Georgian help in the Afghan campaign. He has also stated that he supports all democratic reforms in Georgia. As the latest reform in Georgia was the changing of the constitution, this means that the US supports the possibility of Saakashvili staying in office after 2013, when his second term ends. After the summit in Lisbon, Saakashvili used an opportunity to reinforce his political success by speaking at a session of the European parliament. He seems not to be upset by the fact that NATO didn't give Georgia a plan of action for joining the alliance. Commenting on this situation, Saakashvili confirmed that Georgia would join NATO anyway. Georgian experts believe that the reason why Saakashvili went back to a broad political international policy is that the USA understands there is no alternative in Georgia, as the opposition is too weak and disunited. The problem of Russia and Georgia relations was also touched upon in Lisbon. Saakashvili stated that Georgia would veto the entry of Russia to the WTO until Russia legalizes custom crossing points through the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is impossible, as Russia has recognised their independence. Moreover, Moscow doesn't want to hold direct negotiations with Georgia. Georgy Kalatozishvili. Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK
