Tbilisi

June 12, 2006

D E C L A R A T I O N
of the Republican and Conservative Parties
United under the
Georian Parlia!entar" #action
$De!ocratic #ront%
on the Principles of Georia&s Interation in NATO and
Nor!ali'ation of Russo(Georian Relations
1. Georgia has stepped into the 21
st
century with two interrelated vital statehood problems: (1) de-facto loss
of sovereignty on the part of its own territory; and (2) powerful neighboring country continues interfering in
its internal affairs and pressuring through the use of methods inherited from the imperial past. ccordingly!
the process of restoring Georgia"s statehood has not completed yet! thus hampering the valuable political
formation of a public life.
2. #esolution of these issues cannot be viewed as Georgia"s internal problem only. $t is highly une%pected
that in the near future the #ussian &ederation shifts towards modern democratic standards of relations with
the neighbors! thus placing the bilateral relations in a mutually beneficial channel. 'eing in the captivity of
hegemonic ambitions! #ussian &ederation is unable to formulate and protect its own interests in the (outh
)aucasus without causing harm to the statehood of Georgia and its national security.
*. +ence! Georgia"s affiliation in such an international system! the ,oint forces of which the #ussian
&ederation shall ta-e into consideration! remains as a real means for normali.ing relations between Georgia
and the #ussian &ederation. 'eing a part of this system is crucial for Georgia not for gaining advantageous
power with respect to #ussia! but for neutrali.ing the actions directed against Georgian statehood.
)onse/uently! Georgia"s affiliation in 012 is a precondition for forming the e/ual and neighborly
interstate relations with the #ussian &ederation.
3. ffiliation in 012 is not a matter of days or months. 4ven in the event of the most advantageous
development of the scenario! reaching this goal shall re/uire several years. $n the meantime! Georgia should
wor- under the intensive dialogue regime not only with 012! but the #ussian &ederation! other neighbors
and partners! and de-facto authorities and general public of separatist regions in order to ma-e its strategic
choice clear to the ma%imum and acceptable to the possible e%tents. Georgia should convince all that its
affiliation in 012 is not directed against anyone! does not create danger for anyone! but rather aims to
provide security to the country and its entire population. t the same time! this shall contribute to achieving
stability and security in the geopolitically important region of the (outh )aucasus. 'y affiliating in 012!
Georgia should become a more trustworthy! predictable! and perspective partner for its direct neighbors in
the (outh )aucasus region.
5. 2n the way to 012 Georgia should also develop ma%imum cooperation and integration with the 'lac-
(ea basin countries in the G67 and other regional organi.ational formats. (teady approach to the 46
membership criteria and the establishment and perception of 4uropean liberal and democratic standards in
the political! economic! and social spheres are the necessary attributes for full-scale and e/ual membership
of the 4uro-tlantic system of security.
8. primary goal of Georgia"s affiliation in 012 is to ensure country"s security and unity and to protect
its territorial integrity within the internationally recogni.ed borders. 1herefore! the guarantee of country"s
territorial integrity is a ma,or precondition for becoming a member of 012. 1his should be absolutely
clear as for 012 and its member (tates! as well as for the neighboring countries. ccordingly! it is totally
unacceptable to speculate about Georgia"s affiliation in 012 so that only a part of its territory and
population is protected and the problems related to b-ha.ia and the former (outh 2ssetian utonomous
9istrict! as well as the $9: population remain unsolved. t the same time! citi.ens living in b-ha.ia and
the former (outh 2ssetian utonomous 9istrict should receive clear guarantees that Georgia does not intend
to deal with them by means of forceful methods and abusing the 012 factor.
;. 'y means of affiliating in 012! Georgia should restore the de-facto sovereignty lost on the part of its
territory and not entrust the part of sovereignty sei.ed by the #ussian &ederation to other entity<player.
Georgia should be ready for full contribution to the reali.ation of 012 member countries" common
interests without violating its own strategic interests. 'ecoming a member of 012 should not be
apprehended as alms given by the 012 member (tates to Georgia. :lacing Georgia in the 012 sphere is
a mutually beneficial phenomenon and it should be achieved through mutually acceptable ways and means.
=. Georgia"s aspiration to 012 is accompanied by #ussia"s attempts to impede this process. 0evertheless!
it is e/ually unacceptable to ma-e recessions that further us from the goal and artificially aggravate relations
with the #ussian &ederation! including acting and ma-ing statements that demean the dignity of its leaders
or fellow citi.ens.
>. $ntegration in 012 ma-es Georgia a stronger state; and a stronger state should be more responsible!
dignified! solid! and trustworthy. :arallel to leaving )$( and integrating in 012! Georgia should offer the
#ussian &ederation to accept mutually beneficial initiatives and show to the #ussian &ederation that it does
not intend to participate in #ussia"s e%clusion from the region! but intends to achieve its own security and
non-intervention of borders! which would automatically ensure safety for #ussia"s southern borders as well.
1?. Georgia should be rather solid in relations with the @estern partners also. 1heir interest in Georgia"s
integration into the 4uro-tlantic area is not altruistic or fed only on democratic ideals; they also pursue
their interests! in achieving which Georgia also plays a certain role. $f the country is unable to act as a
trustworthy and stable partner that fulfills all obligations underta-en! then the @estern states shall see-
alternative ways to reali.e their own interests. $nfantilism! non-/ualification! and inconsistency of the
country"s :resident and his team could create such obstacles on the way to country"s integration into
012. 012 membership is only one of the factors promoting economic upheaval! human rights! and the
development of democracy in the country. &urther! the development of democratic institutes and free
entrepreneurship should precede integration in 012. 6nfortunately (aa-ashvili"s government is still
unable to reali.e this fact. $t is obvious that if Georgia loses the uni/ue chance and once again stays alone
with #ussia and other influential states of the region at this historical stage! then it will be doomed for
eternal battle for survival and not the respectful labor for prosperity.
11. &inally! it should be stressed that Georgia"s integration in 012 and the normali.ation of relations with
the #ussian &ederation is a long-term strategic geopolitical tas- and in this conte%t it is absolutely crucial to
ensure the continuity of a relevant political course. 'ased on the mentioned! all political parties agreeing
with this postulate (regardless whether they represent government or the opposition) should ensure the
solution of this tas- through the ,oint efforts.
Aviad 9.id.iguri B )hairman of the &action C9emocratic &rontD
9avid 6supashvili B )hairman of the #epublican :arty
Eoba 9avitashvili B )hairman of the )onservative :arty