TBILISI. April 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia has begun actively preparing for NATO accession, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a meeting with Georgian MPs.
"Georgia has reached the stage of no turning back in the process of joining NATO," the president said.
Georgia's implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) was discussed on April 13 at a meeting at NATO headquarters, he said.
"Georgia passed the exam with flying colors," Saakashvili said.
Georgia's aspiration to join NATO is not directed against any third countries, he said. "This is a path to the peaceful settlement of conflicts and the strengthening of Georgia," the president said.
Saakashvili has repeatedly told journalists that Georgia would join NATO within his first presidential term, that is by 2009.