NATO Secretary General’s speech at Tbilisi University
 
TBILISI, GEORGIA -- 16 SEPTEMBER 2008
 
Ladies and 
Gentlemen,
Dear 
friends,
 
            
Let me start by thanking Rector Georgi Khubua for his kind words of 
introduction.  I have very fond 
memories of my previous visits to Tbilisi University, and I have been looking forward to 
coming back.
 
There 
was, of course, every reason for me to come back.  When I was here last, in October of 
2007, less than a year ago, no one could have predicted the dramatic events that 
have recently unfolded in this country.  
I have come back to Tbilisi this week, together with the members of the North 
Atlantic Council, NATO’s most senior political body, to demonstrate the 
Alliance’s strong support for 
Georgia - and for the democratic choices which 
Georgia has made, and will continue to 
make.
 
            
A lot has been said and written about NATO these last few weeks in 
connection with the crisis in your country.  Regrettably, many of those observations 
have been based on quite serious misunderstandings of what the 
Alliance is about, and how it functions.  And so I appreciate this opportunity to 
talk to you about NATO, our response to the recent events here, and the evolving 
relationship between Georgia and the Alliance .
 
              
NATO has stood by Georgia in the recent crisis, and we will 
continue to do so.  We have given 
our full backing to the robust diplomacy of President Sarkozy in his capacity of 
the EU Presidency and the EU, and strong backing to the six-principle agreement 
signed by the Georgian and Russian Presidents.  We have urged  - and continue to urge - its rapid and 
complete implementation.  NATO has 
also reiterated - in no uncertain terms - the importance of full respect for 
Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – 
and of finding negotiated, peaceful solutions to the conflicts in this region, 
instead of taking unilateral action.  
Our continued support for Georgia is clear in the NATO-Georgia Joint 
Statement that we have issued on the occasion of this 
visit.
 
              
Moreover, we have not only condemned 
Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the 
South 
Ossetia and 
Abkhazia regions of Georgia, but also called upon 
Moscow to reverse that decision.  Because it is a wrong decision. We have 
made clear to Russia that we can not continue with “business 
as usual” – in our relations with Russia and so we have started a review of our 
cooperation.  And we have strongly 
refuted any suggestion by the Russian Government that NATO should somehow choose 
between Russia and 
Georgia.
 
 
 
 
              
NATO will continue to stand by 
Georgia – but neither will we close our doors to 
Russia.  
That would not be the right thing to do, nor would it be in our 
interest.  
Russia is a reality that we cannot ignore - and 
do not want to ignore.  Nor are we 
in the business of punishing Russia.  
As a matter of fact, looking at the international isolation that 
Russia has got itself into, 
Russia is really punishing itself.  Not only NATO, but also the European 
Union, have criticised Moscow.  
Russia did not get the support it wanted from 
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – in which it is a member.  And the Russian economy has already felt 
the impact of last month’s events: just look at the decline of the Russian stock 
market for evidence of that.  
 
              
No, punishing Russia is not the way forward.  The way forward really is to help 
Georgia.  
Your country is located where it is – it cannot pack up and move to a 
quieter part of the world.  
Ultimately, Georgia and 
Russia will have to co-exist.  But this will only work if 
Georgia is sufficiently confident, stable and 
secure – and seen as such by all its neighbours.  And we in NATO want to help 
Georgia move forward again in that 
direction.
 
              
In the wake of the “Rose Revolution” of 2003, this country has set out on 
a bold reform course.  Over the past 
few years, with NATO’s encouragement and assistance, 
Georgia 
has made remarkable progress in democratic, judicial, economic and defence 
reform: even if I must be frank and say that there is more that Georgia must 
still do to meet NATO’s democratic standards fully.  Let me mention in this connection the 
organisation and conduct of elections, an independent, unbiased media, and a 
mature, constructive dialogue between government and opposition  So while I salute Georgia’s remarkable 
progress, I want to see this effort continuing.  
 
              
That said, Georgia has also clearly demonstrated that it 
wants to be a provider of security, and not a mere consumer.  It has contributed forces to 
international stabilisation missions, including the NATO-led operations in 
Kosovo and Afghanistan.  
NATO 
greatly appreciates Georgia’s willingness to share these burdens with 
us.
 
              
Today, there is a strong consensus among the NATO Allies that we should 
continue to intensify our political dialogue with 
Georgia, to extend our practical cooperation, and 
to further deepen our relationship.  
Our key priority at this moment is to assist 
Georgia in relieving the humanitarian crisis and 
recovering from the destruction that was caused last month.  We have begun to provide concrete 
assistance in repairing transportation and communication links and to ensure the 
safety of air traffic.  We have sent 
NATO teams to Georgia in the areas of civil emergency planning 
and defence reform to assess your needs and help channel assistance 
effectively.  We are pushing ahead 
with our Trust Fund to help you destroy dangerous munitions and also to help 
Georgia with de-mining.  Allies have provided assistance to 
Georgia to protect your computer systems against 
cyber attacks.  I cite these 
examples to demonstrate that we will help you not just in words but in deeds as 
well; particularly in helping this country to recover as quickly as possible 
from the immediate crisis.  But we 
are obviously keen to get our longer-term cooperation back on track as soon as 
possible as well.   
 
              
Of course, the Georgian Government has made it very clear for some time 
that it wishes not just to cooperate with NATO, but for Georgia to become a 
member of the Alliance sooner rather than later.  At their last 
Summit in Bucharest in April, NATO Heads of State and 
Government recognised Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and agreed 
that it will become a member of NATO eventually.  In the wake of last month’s crisis, we 
proposed the creation of a NATO-Georgia Commission to help to guide and expand 
our cooperation and to supervise the process that was set in train in 
Bucharest.  
We held a very successful first meeting of that Commission here in 
Tbilisi yesterday.  
It is not only a clear demonstration of NATO’s political commitment to 
Georgia, but also a major vehicle for 
Georgia to enhance its cooperation, and move 
closer towards the Alliance. 
 
              
I say again what I said here last October:  The process of NATO enlargement will 
continue, with due caution, but also with a clear purpose – to help create a 
stable, undivided Europe, in which democratically-elected governments are free 
to make domestic and foreign policy choices that they believe to be in the 
interest of their countries, and their citizens.  No other country will have a veto over 
that process, nor will we allow our strong ties to 
Georgia to be broken by outside military 
intervention, and pressures.  
Georgia has a rightful place in this 
Europe.  It has 
already made great strides to occupy that place.  And while the events of last month may 
have been a setback, the road to NATO is still wide open for 
Georgia.
 
              
Now some of you may feel that road is very long, and wonder how long it 
will still take for Georgia to be admitted into NATO.  In this context, it is important to 
understand that NATO operates by consensus.  Since the 
Alliance is made up of sovereign, democratic 
nations -- with no single nation laying down the law as was the case with the 
Warsaw Pact -- this has sometimes led to difficult debates.  But on the other hand, NATO has drawn 
considerable strength from the very process of consensus-building among its 
member nations.  The efficiency of 
the Alliance’s decision-making was never really 
affected, even when it grew from 16 to 26 member nations.  And NATO’s unanimous decisions have 
always carried more political weight than any majority decisions could have ever 
had.  
 
              
It is no secret that, at the moment, while all 26 NATO Allies agree that 
Georgia will one day be a member of the 
Alliance, there are different views on how fast 
Georgia should be admitted into our Membership 
Action Plan, which will help it to intensify its preparations.  The Allies have agreed that Foreign 
Ministers will make a first assessment of 
Georgia’s application for the MAP – as well as 
that of Ukraine – when they meet again in 
Brussels in December.  I sincerely believe that -  by continuing on the reform course, 
acting responsibly, working with international institutions, pursuing the 
peaceful resolution of conflicts, and contributing to security both at home and 
abroad - Georgia will be able to foster greater consensus among the NATO Allies 
on the timing of its entry into MAP and its eventual membership in NATO.  While the final decision will always 
rest with the NATO Allies, there is much that 
Georgia can and should do to influence that 
decision.  In this respect, let me 
be clear: Georgia has suffered a major shock; but the way 
to respond is not to stop your democratic reforms or to engage in a polarized 
stand-off between government and opposition.  That might be the easy course but it 
would be the wrong course.  The way 
ahead for Georgia – for its security and increased 
engagement with its Western partners – is to push ahead with reform and to 
improve further its democratic institutions and practices.  When others are acting irresponsibly, 
Georgia must be a predictable, responsible 
partner.
 
Ladies 
and Gentlemen,
Dear 
friends,
            
NATO has 
stood by the Georgian people, and it will continue to do so – by offering 
support and encouragement for the democratic choices you have made and will 
continue to make.  I would ask you, 
as members of a generation that has the most to gain from the path of democracy, 
reform and integration, to play your full part in advancing this 
process.
 
Five 
years ago, the “Rose Revolution” was a strong affirmation of the right of the 
Georgian people to choose their own leaders, and to plan their own future.  It is up to you to keep that spirit 
alive, and to carry the flame of freedom and democracy forward.  The future of 
Georgia truly is in your 
hands.
 
Thank 
you.