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Follow the link to learn moreGeorgia is a rather probable candidate for the North Atlantic Alliance, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai has said.
Georgia's place in NATO is obvious, and its engagement is the highest amongst non-member countries, he said at the third South Caucasus security forum in Tbilisi, noting that Georgia was an actual candidate for NATO.
NATO ministers will affirm Georgia's progress on the way to the alliance at their meeting in December, he said.
The alliance representative also touched upon regional security issues and mentioned the role of Russia in this context.
He claimed that Russia was trying to limit the sovereignty of its neighbors, pointed to growing instability in the Baltic countries and mounting threats in the Black Sea region, and asked the audience not to forget about Crimea, Syria and Iraq.
He said at the same time that NATO did not want to send a message that might provoke Russia. He said so in reply to Georgian Defense Minister Tinatin Khidasheli saying that a political decision was needed to support general statements.
