"Integration of Georgia in European Union and NATO is getting tougher because Russia can use economic and military pressure on Georgia", reports GHN.
Mikhail Lamber, fellow researcher of Sorbonne and Tampere Universities talks about the role of Russia in the conflict of Ukraine in interview with French edition "Atlantico".
He comments on the integration of Georgia in European structures and names the problems that face Tbilisi on this way.
GHN offers extract:
"Situation if South Caucasus is very tough because of internal disagreements. There are three not recognized state formations: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Existence of these zones is connected with tough relations of local states with Russia. Because of the conflict of Georgia and Russia in 2008 Georgia lost two regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia and was forced to be occupied with settlement of refugees (they can be named as refugees, if we can consider that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are independent states).
The wounds of the war are still not cured and accordingly the nuisance towards Russia is big. Unfortunately European Union is still far for Georgia and the pro-European orientation of Georgia is not enough - there are many criteria that should be defended. The integration in European Union can happen in 2025. Besides in near future Georgia has to solve problems connected to not recognized states: Georgian diplomacy considers that these territories are still under control of Georgia and this is not right. Integration of Georgia in European Union and NATO getting tougher because Russia can use economic and military pressure on Georgia. Georgia has only one way out from this situation - to wait till European Union and North Atlantic Alliance after Kishinev and Kiev will have time for Tbilisi."