Moscow hostile rapprochement between Georgia and NATO

Efforts to encourage Georgia to join NATO could have serious consequences for relations between Russia and the Alliance, said Friday the Russian journalists in Brussels the new Permanent Representative of Russia to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"I am convinced that NATO officials are aware that efforts to integrate Georgia into the Alliance could have serious consequences for Russian-otaniennes," said the diplomat.

According to him, Russia believes that the enlargement of the Alliance is contrary to the idea of ​​setting up a system of collective security in Europe. In addition, the desire to welcome Georgia into NATO is not able to change the relations between Moscow and the former Soviet republics of Georgia who have declared their independence.

"It would be unrealistic to expect that the policy of rapprochement between Georgia and NATO could influence one way or another on our relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as our commitments their protection, "added Mr Grushko.

Cooperation between Georgia and the North Atlantic Alliance began in 1994 with the integration of Tbilisi Action Plan for NATO membership (MAP). After the "Rose Revolution" in 2004, which brought Mikheil Saakashvili to power in Georgia, this cooperation has increased significantly. In October 2004, it took the form of the Action Plan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

Georgia reaffirms Ivanichvili moving toward Euro-Atlantic integration

Bidzina Ivanichvili, head of the opposition coalition Georgian Dream won legislative October 1, said Tuesday after a meeting with President Mikheil Saakashvili they were both for the approximation of Georgia NATO and the EU.

"In this regard, our ideas coincide. European integration and Euro-Atlantic strategy," said M.Ivanichvili, quoted by News-Georgia.

He added that in some time, Georgia will not fail to become a member of NATO.

Moscow Says NATO Failed To Learn Lessons Of 2008 War With Georgia

Reiteration by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen that Georgia would join the alliance, encourages Georgia’s “revanchist aspirations”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 10.
The statement was a reaction to Rasmussen’s remarks when he visited Tbilisi on September 10, telling Georgia: “The future is in your hands. But know this: you have a friend in NATO – and a future home in NATO.”
While noting that such statements “contain no new elements” and represent reiteration of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit decision that Georgia will join the alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that such remarks were showing that NATO kept on “sending ‘encouraging’ signals to Tbilisi”, indicating that the alliance “failed to learn the lessons of the tragic events of 2008 in South Caucasus.”

Georgia – Russia Relations

Reinsalu: Estonia supports Georgia Striving Towards NATO Membership

Estonian Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu met with Georgian Ambassador to Estonia Ruslan Abashidze, with whom bilateral defence cooperation, Georgia’s relations with NATO, and the general development of the country were discussed.

At the meeting, Minister of Defence Reinsalu declared that Estonia continuously supports Georgia striving towards NATO membership. “Georgia continues to be an important partner for NATO. Also, it is important that the Georgian parliamentary elections in October be honest and transparent,” Reinsalu added.

The Minister of Defence also declared that Estonia highly appreciates the continuation of ties with Georgia, regardless of the economic difficulties. “Estonia has contributed a great deal towards strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities, mainly through defence-related education. The basic training courses, in both Estonia and Georgia, have increased the defence capability of both countries,” Reinsalu said.

U.S. to Help Build Georgian Air Defense

The United States has pledged to help Georgia develop its air defenses and coastal surveillance capabilities, following a meeting in the South Caucasus nation.

The two countries' working groups also discussed options to boost Georgia's "defensive combat engineer capabilities, improve leadership and training skills of its non-commissioned officers, advance the command and control abilities of its brigade headquarters, and prepare to upgrade its utility helicopter fleet," the U.S. State Department said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

The meeting was part of an annual plenary session of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission, which was opened in Batumi on June 5 by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri.

The nations agreed to move "move from analysis and evaluation to implementation in the coming months," the statement said.

The Commission, which was formed in 2009, also discussed Georgia's upcoming 2012 parliamentary and 2013 presidential elections as well as a host of economic issues.

It also discussed how Georgia can reach out to people of the independent republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia has provided security and assistance for the two tiny nations since its brief war with Georgia over South Ossetia in 2008.

They are only recognized by Moscow and a handful of other countries.

First MBT of Georgia

Soon, the prototype of the first production model of the MBT of Georgia will be ready! They plan to export the tanks to the NATO allies, including Pakistan and Iraq.
Some drawings outside of the tank are paying attention.

Georgian drone has been shot down by Russia