Georgian envoy urges German support for NATO membership

Coat of Arms of Georgia

31 March 2008

Berlin-Georgia's Ambassador to Germany Levan Duchidze on Monday called for German support for his country's NATO membership amid Berlin's steadfast opposition to plans for allowing Georgia and Ukraine into the so-called NATO action plan.

Talking to the German dpa news agency, Duchidze warned rejecting Georgia's bid to enter the western military pact would set a "wrong signal."

He added his country needed to be included in the NATO action plan "to preserve the positive dynamic" in Georgia.

Meanwhile, German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said during a routine news conference in Berlin that Georgia and Ukraine were still not ready to join NATO, citing internal conflicts in both countries.

He stressed while Germany remains committed to NATO's 'open door policy', this was "not the right moment for Georgia and Ukraine." "The requirements for a membership perspective for both countries are not sufficient," Wilhelm said.

Although many East European countries and the US back Georgian and Ukrainian NATO membership campaign, Germany, Italy and France still oppose the bid.