State Minister Speaks of Talks with NATO

Georgia?s talks with NATO in the frames of Intensified Dialogue focus more on political issues than defense reforms, Georgian State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues Giorgi Baramidze said in an interview with RFE/RL Georgian Service on December 15.

Baramidze led the Georgian delegation at the first start-up meeting in the format of Intensified Dialogue held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on December 14-15.

?There is more focus made on political issues [during these talks], because reforms are undergoing more easily in Georgia in the defense sector, because we spare no efforts, neither financial nor human resources, to develop this sector,? Baramidze said.

?Big attention is paid towards Russian-Georgian relations and we can say directly that this [Russia?s factor] is a major obstacle towards our drive towards NATO, because the West cares a lot about its relations with Russia. And there are calls towards us to be extremely cautious in our moves,? the Georgian State Minister said.

He also said that peaceful resolution of conflicts is another part of the political consultations in the frames of the Intensified Dialogue with NATO.

?And the third issue is related with the rule of law in Georgia ? this is already in the focus of our government?s activities – including reforms in the penitentiary system, judiciary reform, border security issues – these are the issues which are part of our homework,? Baramidze said.

Giorgi Baramidze also said that a NATO assessment mission will visit Georgia on January 19-23 and in early May there will be a joint session of the North Atlantic Council and Georgia which will discuss findings of the assessment mission.

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