Shevardnadze: Georgia Can Secure Its Territorial Integrity Only After Becoming A Member Of Nato

TBILISI (AA) - Eduard Shevardnadze, the ousted leader of Georgia, said on Friday that Georgia could secure its territorial integrity only after becoming a member of NATO.
     In an exclusive interview with the A.A, Shevardnadze said that it was extremely difficult to resolve the impasses in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in short-term.
     Highlighting importance of activities of the United Nations in the region, Shevardnadze said that there is no progress as regards the return of refugees.
     Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, Shevardnadze said, ''late President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan was one of the biggest architects of the project. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel also expended great efforts for the project. Russia has opposed it from the very beginning. Boris Yeltsin, the former president of Russia, told us many times that Georgia should withdraw from the project. However, we attribute vital importance to the project since it will put an end to our dependence on Russia for energy.''
     Shevardnadze was forced to resign in November 2003 after allegations of vote rigging and irregularities in the parliamentary elections. He acted as president Georgia from 1995 to 2003.
     (UK-ULG)
2005-05-20