Rasmussen in Tbilisi: Georgia Will Join NATO

NATO Secretary General Rasmussen (front R) speaks, with Deputy PM of Georgia and State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration, Giorgi Baramidze (front L) at a ceremony of opening of NATO Liaison Office in Tbilisi. EPA/BGNES

Georgia will one day become a NATO member, the Secretary-General of the Alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, declared in Tbilisi Friday.

Rasmussen reassured the Georgians that the Pact will be helping their country to meet its admission standards, emphasizing NATO's commitment to the former Soviet Republic, as cited by RIA Novosti.

"NATO greatly values its partnership with Georgia, in particular its contribution to NATO's operations in Afghanistan. NATO's commitment to Georgia's eventual membership as stated at the Bucharest summit stands firm," Rasmussen said at an opening ceremony for a new NATO liaison office.

Two years ago, at the alliance's gathering in the Romanian capital, it was announced that Ukraine and Georgia would join the organization. However, back then the two were not granted the Membership Action Plans (MAPs), as the US plans for that were frustrated by firm opposition by key European allies, notably Germany and France, worried such a move would antagonize Russia.

As Viktor Yushchenko lost Ukraine's Presidency to Viktor Yanukovich in early 2010, however, Kiev has later dropped its plans to join the military alliance.

However, under the leadership of President Mikheil Saakashvili, Tbilisi remains devoted to the idea and, as Rasmussen's visit shows, is making steps forwards on the path to the desired goal even though its prospects have been complicated by the secession of its provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia folling its August 2008 war with Russia.

Rasmussen's visit to Tbilisi comes a day after four Georgian soldiers, a colonel, a sergeant, and two corporals, were killed in combat in Afghanistan by an explosive device. A Georgian soldier was killed in another bomb attack in September, which was the first loss of life for the Caucasus country in Afghanistan. .

"Today is a sad day for all of us. Several of your comrades have yesterday been killed in combat in Afghanistan. Georgian soldiers are serving in Helmand province - one of the most difficult areas in our mission in Afghanistan. I highly appreciate your dedication to our common security, which is a testimony of strong partnership between Georgia and NATO," the NATO Secretary-General stated in Tbilisi.

About 1 000 Georgian soldiers have been deployed in Afghanistan since April 2010, mainly in Helmand province serving alongside US marines. Georgia, which a population of 4.4 million has the largest per capita contribution to the allied forces in Afghanistan.

A total of 152 000 foreign troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led ISAF many of whom are directly engaged in fighting Taliban insurgents.

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