U.S: Georgia and Ukraine note mature for NATO yetJune 9, 2008 - 18:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine and Georgia are not ready to join NATO yet, according to U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Ms. Victoria Nuland. Ukraine and Georgia have set a strategic goal - to join NATO, still at the latest alliance summit held on April 2-4, in Bucharest, they were not included into NATO MAP. Discussion was postponed to December. "No NATO member can say Ukraine and Georgia have matured to join the alliance," the ambassador said. The U.S. supports joining of the two states to MAP, said Ms. Nuland, as it is an "educative program of NATO, which assists to implement democracy and reforms, settle internal problems, both countries still have, for they were ready to the alliance membership." ""So I think if Ukraine and Georgia were granted MAP, it will be a number of years. It will be a number of years because they have a lot of work to do. How many years would be dependent on how quickly the internal issues were addressed and how well we work together. But I can promise you one thing, at the moment when NATO is ready to offer membership to Ukraine and Georgia, they will be stronger, more democratic, more peaceful neighbors of yours because that's what MAP does," Ms. Nuland concluded, ForUm reports. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Mirzoyan says meeting with Bayramov was “constructive” At the moment, Ararat Mirzoyan said, there is no basis for additional comments. OSCE vows support for Armenia “in all three directions of security” Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. 151 detained as civil disobedience campaigns continue in Yerevan Citizens have been blocking streets in the Armenian capital, demanding Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. France welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in Almaty France has welcomed the new round of negotiations between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. |