MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia needs a referendum on joining NATO, as its results would show the real aspirations of Georgian people, which are opposite to those of the official Tbilisi line, secretary general of the World Congress of the Nations of Georgia Vladimir Homeriki told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
“Such a referendum is needed, it would yield results, as the real attitude of the Georgian society is the polar opposite of the official line, it is being presented [by the authorities] as a common aspiration of Georgian people dreaming of NATO membership. This is what the current [Georgian] authorities do,” Homeriki said following a press conference at the press center of International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya.
Homeriki added that at least 80 percent of Georgians would vote against joining NATO, should the referendum be held.
The secretary general emphasized that people in Georgia are aware that NATO membership would only bring more troubles to their country. Homeriki recalled the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, saying NATO was to blame for provoking the military action.
Georgia held a referendum on joining NATO in 2008, with over 72 percent of the population supporting the idea at the time. The country has sought membership in the North Atlantic Alliance since the pro-western President Mikheil Saakashvili took office in 2003.
