Yushchenko Comments on Peacekeeping, NATO Integration
Visiting Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko reiterated on March 1 in Tbilisi that his country is ready to contribute to peacekeeping operations in Georgia?s conflict zones only under ?an international mandate that will be acceptable for both sides of the conflict.?
He said that the Georgian leadership has ?a very clear plan of conflict resolution? which involves the development of bilateral dialogue between the conflicting sides.
?There is no need for fifth and sixth parties to be involved. This dialogue should be intensified through the facilitation of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations,? Yushchenko said.
President Yushchenko also said that Georgia and Ukraine are aspiring towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
?But we also understand that we have much homework to do on this road,? he added.
President Saakashvili said that ?No country has the right to veto the further integration of Georgia into NATO,” and went on to say that ?Our NATO aspiration is not directed against any other state.?
He added that he is not in the position to speculate on the timeframe of Georgia?s NATO accession.
?But we are talking about very concrete timeframes? Time will come and the alliance itself will announce it,? Saakashvili said.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
