Plebiscite outcomes hardly to speed up Georgia's accession to NATO
The plebiscite outcomes will hardly speed up the process of Georgia's accession to NATO, said Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
"Certainly, the opinion of the population is always taken into account but membership is first of all granted to states meeting NATO criteria.
Fir his part, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said that Georgia's accession to NATO mostly depends on Pres. Saakashvili. "If he preserves the principles of a legal state and allows the opposition to appeal the results of the elections, the United States will support Georgia for NATO membership. If he keeps up the methods he used to apply during the recent months he will leave the Bucharest summit empty-handed," Mr Fried said.
At a referendum on January 5, 72,5% of Georgian electors voted for joining NATO.
"Certainly, the opinion of the population is always taken into account but membership is first of all granted to states meeting NATO criteria.
Fir his part, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said that Georgia's accession to NATO mostly depends on Pres. Saakashvili. "If he preserves the principles of a legal state and allows the opposition to appeal the results of the elections, the United States will support Georgia for NATO membership. If he keeps up the methods he used to apply during the recent months he will leave the Bucharest summit empty-handed," Mr Fried said.
At a referendum on January 5, 72,5% of Georgian electors voted for joining NATO.
