Civil Georgia
March 4, 2015
U.S. Diplomat: Tbilisi Pursues ‘Thoughtful Strategy’ for its Security
Tbilisi: U.S. ambassador in Tbilisi, Richard Norland, said on March 4 that Georgia is pursuing a “very thoughtful strategy” to defend its security including through “diplomatic dialogue” and enhancing its military capabilities.
He made remarks when asked by journalists about French President François Hollande’s March 2 comments saying that he considers NATO enlargement not a priority at this point and applications from the aspirant countries should be turned down at this time.
“I am not going to comment specifically on the statement by the leader of a NATO country,” the U.S. ambassador said. “I think the important thing is for Georgia to do everything it can to enhance its qualifications for NATO membership.”
“Georgia is pursuing, I think, a very thoughtful strategy to defend its national security right now. It is focusing on making itself strong economically, and link economically with its neighbors, it is focusing on enhancing its military capabilities – the deterrence qualities of its army, including training of soldiers for service in Afghanistan – and it is pursuing an approach of diplomatic dialogue to try to get as far as possible by talking. So right now, Georgia is doing everything it can, and I think when the time comes, NATO will make appropriate decisions,” he said.
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