Tbilisi, in contrast to Kyiv, is approaching NATO confidently, although much remains to be done in Georgia's EuroAtlantic integration, Ukraine's ambassador to Georgia Vasyl Tsybenko has said.
“There’s every reason to state that Georgia is approaching a certain
goal, although it still has a lot to do. The most important thing is
that Tbilisi understands this,” Tsybenko said in an interview with the
Interfax-Ukraine.
He noted that Ukraine and Georgia had worked efficiently with the
North Atlantic alliance within the Partnership for Peace Program.
“According to experts, this cooperation was rather successful and
allowed the country to start the next more difficult stage of
cooperation within the Annual National Program,” Tsybenko said
“Georgian society, unlike that of Ukraine, has achieved a high level
of moral and psychological readiness to join the European Union and the
NATO,” Tsybenko said, comparing the attitudes of Tbilisi and Kyiv
towards EuroAtlantic integration.
The ambassador noted that a referendum has been held in Georgia on
its membership of the alliance, in which 72% of the citizens supported
joining NATO.
“Now the government and the opposition, both in the country and
beyond its borders, support this issue unanimously. Thus, NATO
membership is not only important for Georgia, but is an essential
element of its security policy,” the ambassador said.
