Saakashvili: Georgia Has Chance to Become NATO Member in 2008

President Saakashvili said on February 14 that Georgia will become a NATO membership candidate this year and will join the alliance in 2008. He made this statement during his state of the nation address to the Parliament.

“We are very close to NATO [membership]… I want to announce today that Georgia has a real chance to become a NATO member in 2008. This year we will become a NATO membership candidate country,” Saakashvili said.

“This [NATO membership] means that Georgia’s borders will be NATO’s borders and these borders will be defended not by our tanks and planes, but it will be defended by several thousands western planes,” he added.

He said that Georgia currently has “the smallest army in the region, but it is the best equipped.”

“We are a peaceful nation, but in this region, with plenty of threats, we need to have a strong army,” he added.