President: Georgia very close to integration into NATO

Georgia has never been so close to realising its dream of integrating into Europe and NATO, as it is today, Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a briefing in Batumi on Thursday.

He said he believes the Secretary General's statements and Russia "cannot interfere with this process".

"The Secretary General said that no third country can put a veto on NATO expansion and if such a decision is taken then Georgia will also meet NATO standards," he said.

In turn, Secretary General Rasmussen stressed that the NATO Bucharest summit decision remains in force, namely that Georgia will join NATO, although will still have to take a few further steps.


/Trend/