Group Calls for Public Awareness Campaign to Counter Anti-NATO Debate

Distorted information has prevailed in debates that have recently emerged in Georgia over the country?s NATO integration, and the government should carry out more active public awareness campaigns, a non-governmental group campaigning for Georgia?s NATO-membership said on February 16.

Koki Ionatamishvili, head of New Generation-New Initiative (nGnI), said that some politicians have recently started to mislead society about the country?s NATO aspirations.

Leaders of the opposition National Forum and Traditionalists parties said recently that the country?s leadership should be cautious about NATO integration, as it may lead to losing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Activists from these parties claimed recently that the NATO Secretary General allegedly said the alliance was not interested in Georgia?s territorial integrity. But opponents say that this is a clear attempt to misinterpret the statements of the NATO officials.

?NATO supports the peaceful resolution of conflicts and recognizes Georgia?s territorial integrity? If [NATO] says that we should restore our territorial integrity first and then it [NATO] will receive us, Russia will be more interested that we never solve the Ossetian and Abkhaz problems,? Koki Ionatamishvili said.

Speaking on the Tbilisi-based Imedi TV?s talk-show On Air, Akaki Asatiani, leader of the Traditionalist Party, said that Georgian leadership should now start thinking about neutrality. He said that the recent statement by the Russian Ambassador to Georgia that Moscow wants to see a neutral Georgia was a hint that Moscow may consider some concessions in respect to the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts if Tbilisi agrees on neutrality.

He also said that the discussion whether to join NATO or not should not be taboo. ?I am sure that public opinion may change as a result of these discussions,? Akaki Asatiani said.

83% of Georgians are in favor of the country?s NATO integration, according to polls carried out in December 2006. Most opposition parties, including the New Rights, Republicans, Conservatives, Industrialists and Georgia?s Way, also voice their support for NATO membership.

Lawmakers from the ruling National Movement party described the attempts by the National Forum and Traditionalist parties to push for debates about NATO membership as an intention to split public opinion, as happened in Ukraine.

?Some politicians are purposefully and intentionally disseminating false and distorting information that NATO membership will be equal to losing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They are saying that as if NATO Secretary General said that NATO will open its doors for Georgia, but without Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is not true. What the NATO Secretary General said is that NATO will be ready to open its doors even if conflicts are not resolved, and this is a very important statement for us and a very important message to Russia,? Giga Bokeria, an influential lawmaker from the ruling party, said at the parliamentary session on February 16.

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