Georgia, Tbilisi, April 7/ Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
Support of Georgia's NATO membership increased compared to last year, according to results of a study conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in March.
Joining the Alliance is supported fully by 56 percent of respondents; last year's figure was lower.
Most respondents consider NATO membership as a rather distant prospect. Some 34 percent of respondents believe that Georgia will join NATO after 2013. Seven percent responded that they foresee it happening in 2012 -- seven percent believe that membership will never occur.
Most respondents are dissatisfied with the Georgian government's current policy toward Russia. Some 12 percent of respondents fully accept the authorities' policy, while 28 percent reject it.
Some 71 percent of respondents believe that Russia poses a threat to Georgia's sovereignty. Nine percent does not agree with it. Most of the respondents (74 percent) support dialogue with Russia.
Also, Georgia's integration into European institutions was met with a positive response, with a 73 percent approval rating.
The study requested by NDI was conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center on March 4-17. Some 2,893 respondents were surveyed throughout Georgia.