<P> Georgia maintains good relations with its direct neighbours (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey) and is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Community of Democratic Choice, the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank . Georgia also maintains political, economic, and military relations with France, Germany, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States, and many other countries . </P> <P> The growing U.S. and European Union influence in Georgia, notably through proposed EU and NATO membership, the U.S. Train and Equip military assistance program, and the construction of the Baku--Tbilisi--Ceyhan pipeline have frequently strained Tbilisi's relations with Moscow . Georgia's decision to boost its presence in the coalition forces in Iraq was an important initiative . </P> <P> Georgia is currently working to become a full member of NATO . In August 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia was submitted officially to NATO . On 29 October 2004, the North Atlantic Council of NATO approved the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Georgia, and Georgia moved on to the second stage of Euro--Atlantic Integration . In 2005, by the decision of the President of Georgia, a state commission was set up to implement the Individual Partnership Action Plan, which presents an interdepartmental group headed by the Prime Minister . The Commission was tasked with coordinating and controlling the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan . </P> <P> On 14 February 2005, the agreement on the appointment of Partnership for Peace (PfP) liaison officer between Georgia and NATO came into force, whereby a liaison officer for the South Caucasus was assigned to Georgia . On 2 March 2005, the agreement was signed on the provision of the host nation support to and transit of NATO forces and NATO personnel . On 6--9 March 2006, the IPAP implementation interim assessment team arrived in Tbilisi . On 13 April 2006, the discussion of the assessment report on implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan was held at NATO Headquarters, within 26 + 1 format . In 2006, the Georgian parliament voted unanimously for the bill which calls for integration of Georgia into NATO . The majority of Georgians and politicians in Georgia support the push for NATO membership . </P>

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