Georgian president reiterates bid to join NATO

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili Thursday reiterated his country's bid for NATO membership, saying the Caucasus nation will join the alliance "for sure."

Since coming to power in 2003, Saakashvili has made it a goal of Georgia's to join NATO and the country has been engaged in a dialogue with the alliance.

"Georgia will complete the stage of intensive dialogue with NATO this autumn and will wait one year for a decision on the country's transition to the Membership Action Plan," Saakashvili was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

NATO assessment missions that visited Georgia "appraised very positively" its implementation of the intensive dialogue, he said.

"Georgia will join NATO for sure -- this is not so much a pragmatic question as a question of our natural place and a centuries-long desire of Georgian people to be a member of an advanced and influential international organization," he said.

Earlier this month, U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law a bill that supported the expansion of NATO and would allow new military aid for prospective member countries, including Georgia. Russia, which opposes NATO enlargement, criticized the legislation.

Source: Xinhua