NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen personally invited the President of Georgia to the 58^th NATO Parliamentary Assembly, where Mikheil Saakashvili will be presented as the main speaker. The Head of State received the invitation during a phone conversation with Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The Head of State once again noted that after democratically held elections the country is closer to the North Atlantic Alliance. According to him, we now have a historic chance to seriously advance in terms of NATO integration.  As the President stated, he also spoke about this issue with the candidate for Prime Minister. Mikheil Saakashvili added that it is necessary to cooperate with the coalition elected, as a result of elections, in order to accelerate the integration process.

“The NATO Secretary General has just called me and I am invited to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Prague as the main speaker in November. I also wanted to share with you what I think now, after these elections. We now have a historic chance to advance seriously in terms of NATO integration. The NATO Ministerial is scheduled for December where they will be able to make new decisions. We now have to work together like never before, and I also spoke to the candidate for Prime Minister about this. It is also necessary to work with the coalition elected, as a result of the Parliamentary elections, so that we advance in terms of NATO integration. As President, I am ready to do everything for this within my remaining one year term, in the conditions where everyone has recognized these elections as an example of democracy. If we do keep a democratic framework in Georgia…of course we have a lot more to do. We really have this opportunity. I think that no one will have illusions about the fact that we have problems with our conquerors because of a specific political leader or personality, especially after the recent parliamentary elections; nobody including the coalition. The problem is fundamental – it is the independence of Georgia. So this is why, like never before, it is necessary to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic course of Georgia. There is no alternative to this course for our country no matter who is in power. This is why we must no longer prolong ascertaining the results of the election and formation of the new government. I am observing the process of transfer of power. Georgia has a lot less debt than it had before and after the Rose Revolution. The budget of Georgia has such a resource that it is enough to do a lot of things. They now have to take the lead over this budget, spend it on the Georgian people, and continue the foreign policy course. We will assist this in every way because it is our goal to advance Georgia. Politicians must also realize that the election campaign is over. They must assume responsibility and get rid of the pre-election rhetoric and aggression. We must now work very hard for what people have voted for – further progress of Georgia and progress of each family.” – stated the President of Georgia.