US Senators call on NATO to keep its open door policy and grant MAP to Georgia
By Ana Robakidze
Monday, April 14
Georgia has the strong support of the United State. However, some Western European states still need to be convinced.
"The Georgians are well aware that they do not have a consensus in the alliance, and that they have work to do to convince in [particular] our Western European allies of their worthiness for the membership action plan. ... One thing that happens very soon for Georgia, it is on track to sign its association agreement with the European Union, which will deepen its relations with many of these same countries, so we're hopeful that will have a positive impact on how they assess its worthiness,” Victoria Nuland, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs said, while answering questions at a hearing of the European subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Before answering questions about foreign policy, Nurland addressed the committee and spoke about Trans-Atlantic security challenges. She said that the U.S administration is seriously concerned about Russian aggression in Ukraine and how the Crimea crisis may affect other neighboring countries to Ukraine.
“We are also concerned about the pressure this crisis is putting on Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and other neighbors of Ukraine... The Ukraine crisis highlights another deep and growing challenge in the Euro-Atlantic space.
Derek Chollet, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs said at the committee hearing that the U.S is supportive of the Membership Action Plan. However, the Alliance has to decide whether Georgia will receive MAP or not, and it is not a decision the U.S can make alone.
“We have worked close with our Georgian partners through this process and it’s something that clearly will be a subject of conversation in the months ahead as we lead-up to the Wales summit,” Chollet said.
Senator Chris Murphy, who chaired the hearing, said the U.S has to increase its commitment to NATO’s response in the Eastern European region. He also called on the U.S administration to immediately terminate the sale of weapons to Russia.
“Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its continued menacing of Ukraine, Moldova and other Eastern European countries has put the security of the entire region in jeopardy. Now is the time to strengthen our transatlantic relationships and reassure our European allies that the security of the region remains a top priority for the United States... Now it is time for NATO to grant the Membership Action Plan to Georgia,” Senator Murphy said. He expressed his hope that the fear of confrontation over Georgia will not divide the opinion of NATO member states, as it had happened in the past and that a clear message will be sent to President Vladimir Putin that he will fail to achieve his objectives through threats and bullying.
According to Murphy, Georgia still has to take serious steps to become a full candidate for admission to NATO. However, the alliance has to send a very strong signal to Russia that it is serious about maintaining NATO’s open-door policy.