Davit Gamkrelidze:
For Gamkrelidze, NATO membership is the best guarantee of Georgia's territorial integrity and democratic development. If elected president, he plans to continue army reforms to meet NATO standards. He has also stressed the importance of dialogue with Moscow and plans to build an economic coalition together with Georgia's Caucasus neighbors, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Shalva Natelashvili:
Natelashvili, a graduate of the Soviet Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, supports both NATO and EU integration and has also promised to bring an end to the ongoing row between Tbilisi and Moscow. "NATO, the EU and Russia should resolve their differences amongst themselves," Natelashvili told EurasiaNet, adding that with NATO and EU expansion in flux Georgia should just go with the flow. "We shouldn't be toadying to either side," he said.
Mikheil Saakashvili:
Saakashvili's reelection is unlikely to bring about any significant change in Georgia's foreign policy. In the course of his campaign, Saakashvili reiterated his commitment to keeping Georgia on the track toward integration with NATO and the European Union and to maintain close ties with Washington. As he largely views Putin and the Kremlin as an enemy camp, a second term for Saakashvili could well be marked by ongoing tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi, observers believe.
Irina Sarishvili:
Sarishvili, once a fierce leader of Georgia's fight for independence from the Soviet Union, now an ally of Igor Giorgadze, the Moscow-based former head of Georgia's security service, believes that Georgia should opt for neutrality in the tug-of-war between East and West. "We should steer clear of any military and political alliance (NATO, CIS) and should not host any foreign military base," Sarishvili said.
Levan Gachechiladze:
On the international relations front, Gachechiladze's views pull in opposite directions. He has made it clear that he would seek a rapprochement with Moscow, but also says he will see Georgia quit the CIS and accede to NATO, a prospect to which Russia is openly hostile. "Drawing on our historical and cultural ties, Georgians and Russians will find a common language," Gachechiladze told EurasiaNet.
