France was ready to give a positive signal to Georgia at the NATO summit in Bucharest, although it opposed granting Georgia a MAP plan (action plan for NATO membership). This is stated in the materials published by Wikileaks.
As noted in the documents, such a position of France was due to the following factors: concerns regarding creation of tense relations with Russia, a desire to define the territorial boundaries of NATO and a concern on domestic issues in Georgia relating to separatist regions.
France argued, and continues to argue that "NATO must not create new dividing lines, and that territorial conflicts must be resolved before joining the organization". It is to be recalled that recently Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed this French position.
In connection with the aforesaid, France opposed a proposal by the U.S. government of a visit to Georgia by the North Atlantic Council simultaneously with the Secretary General's visit in early October.
The letter also said that France considered the question if the NATO could determine for for Georgia another status and another approach to security in the region, possibly in conjunction with benefits, including the abolition of visa requirements for the EU.
The French government also believed that Germany opposed Georgia's membership in the NATO not less than France.
Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center