NATO: Disagreements on Georgia to be Raised with Russia

NATO has decided to resume formal contacts with Russia to discuss, among other things, “fundamental disagreements” persisting over Georgia, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the NATO secretary general, said.

Speaking at a news conference after the NATO foreign ministerial summit in Brussels on March 5, Scheffer said that the allies had agreed to formally resume the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) including on the ministerial level “as soon as possible after” the NATO leaders summit in Strasburg and Kehl on April 3-4.

“Where we disagree and where we go on disagreeing… is Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, its intention to build military bases there – part of Georgia’s territory, let’s not forget that,” Scheffer said.

He also said that non-accession of international monitors to breakaway regions and a non-withdrawal of Russian troops from the areas Moscow had committed to leave under the ceasefire agreements were also points where “Russia is not fulfilling its obligations.” He said that suspension of CEF treaty by Russia was also a matter of “particular concern” for the NATO allies. He said that NATO would raise these issues with Russia in frames of NRC.

“And I know that Russia is willing to have that discussion as well,” Scheffer said and also added: “Russia is a global player. Not talking to them is not an option.”

The NATO-Georgia Commission was due to meet on the foreign ministerial level later on March 5. Scheffer said that participants would exchange views on the situation in Georgia and progress in reforms and also on how NATO could help in those reforms.

He also said that at the both meetings of NATO-Georgia and NATO-Ukraine commissions, the foreign ministers from the alliance would “reiterate NATO’s strong support” for Georgia’s and Ukraine’s aspiration to move closer to the alliance and the alliance’s “determination” to help them in this process.

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