NATO Backs Georgia

Georgia stands together with NATO, but apart from Russia

As is expected, negotiations devoted to military issues are to take place in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. The talks will be held between Georgia, the USA, and Turkey. It is obvious that the speed of Georgia’s rapprochement with the West (in terms of military, political, and economic issues) are proportionate to the speed at which relations between Russia and Georgia become worse and worse.

Some analysts believe that many of Georgian areas will be under Americans’ guardianship until the end of the current year. Taking into consideration the recent start of the construction of an oil pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan), the USA and Turkey will increase their military presence and aid to Georgia. These countries need to back profitable economic projects and their own investments. Turkey has already assigned about ten million dollars to the Defense Ministry of Georgia during the latest couple of years. The US Congress approves $100 million in aid to Georgia annually.

Moving closer to the West, Georgia realizes perfectly that this will only rouse the spite of Moscow. Georgia released a statement in which it was said that the USA, Russia, and Georgia have a common goal: the struggle with international terrorism. This statement from Georgia is scorn, taking into consideration the Pankisi Gorge controversy.

However, Georgia is making its way to NATO. The National Military Academy of Georgia held a ceremony to launch the beginning of the school year for 210 Georgian cadets. Those cadets will be the first to undergo training by NATO standards. This training will be based on the so-called “Turkish program.” The cadets will be taught by both Georgian and Turkish professors. Turkey is in charge of the first stage of the program. The program will continue for five years.

Dmitry Chirkin PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov