TBILISI. April 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia said it is likely to be granted the status of candidate for membership in NATO in 2006.
"I'm convinced that Georgia has good chances of being granted the status of candidate for membership in NATO by the end of 2006," Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili told the press on Wednesday.
"After we gain this status we'll have to take several more steps towards membership in NATO," he said.
In reference to the Georgian army's preparedness to change over to NATO standards the Georgian defense minister said, "By the end of the year we'll have an army. Now we only have a formation resembling an army."