MILITARY ALLIANCE:BRUSSELS - Nato said yesterday that its April summit pledge that Georgia will one day become a member of the alliance still stands, despite the fighting with Russia over South Ossetia.
Secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the military alliance awaited confirmation on the ground of Russia's order to cease military operations, but that was not enough and the situation must revert to the pre-clashes status quo.
"I think that the Bucharest communique stands. The allies have said in Bucharest that one day Georgia will join Nato," Mr de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference after Nato ambassadors met Georgia's ambassador to discuss the crisis.
But a number of members believe the alliance should review its relationship with Russia following the conflict in South Ossetia, the United States's envoy to the alliance said.
"In the discussion today, a number of allies suggested there could not be business as usual . . . We think we need to look at how we are working with Russia," US ambassador to Nato Kurt Volker told a news conference.
Georgia had made a number of requests to Nato for assistance, which the allies agreed to consider urgently, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said, reaffirming that Moscow's use of force had been massive and disproportionate.
But he added: "Nato is not seeking a direct role or a military role in this conflict."
Russia is fiercely opposed to Georgia's aspirations to join Nato, which would take the Western military alliance right up to its southern border. Many analysts believe that was one of the key causes of this month's fighting.
Moscow requested on Monday an emergency meeting of the Nato-Russia council to discuss the crisis, but after initially saying it could take place on Tuesday, Nato said it required more preparation. - (Reuters)