NATO promises more engagement in Georgia

/By AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

NATO will soon have a bigger presence in Georgia as it supports the country to move towards membership at the alliance, said James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on December 4.

Briefing about his meeting with Georgia’s Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze, Appathurai focused on the professionalism of the defense ministry, saying it is in the right direction.

"You will soon see Georgia to be represented in NATO even more and also more NATO engagement in Georgia,” he noted.

The NATO envoy said the alliance planned to hold consultations with Georgia in the security field, which also involves the civil society. He noted that Georgia is a country whose citizens are experts of NATO and NATO-Georgia relationship.

He also confirmed NATO would actively participate in Georgia’s implementation of the substantial package offered to Georgia at the NATO Wales Summit in September.

"Georgia received a new package at the NATO Summit, which will help the country to join the alliance. The defense ministry is making every effort to carry out all directions outlined in the package. NATO representatives are also actively participating in this process,” Appathurai said.

He went on to deliver NATO's gratitude to Georgia for its participation in international peacekeeping missions, underlining its important contribution to global security. "Georgia is a small country, however, it greatly contributes to the global security, as Georgian militaries are serving in the regions with difficult circumstances,” he said.

Janelidze, in turn, said the meeting with Appathurai was very fruitful.

"First of all, we have reconsidered the issues of current cooperation. The main topic for the talks was the NATO Substantial Packages granted to Georgia at the Wales Summit and its implementation process,” he said.

Janelidze noted that Georgia will do its utmost to realize the substantial NATO-Georgia packages, which aim to strengthen the defensive capabilities and security of the South Caucasus country.

Following the meeting with Janelidze, Appathurai sat with Georgia’s State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze to mull Georgia’s European integration prospects.

Appathurai denounced the so-called "Alliance and Strategic Partnership" treaty between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia, calling it as unacceptable.

"Russia-Abkhazia treaty is unacceptable, as the NATO Secretary General noted the same. NATO continues to remain committed to the sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders,” he said.

NATO support is what Georgia needs amid the recent tense political relations with Russia following the treaty between Russia and its separatist Abkhazia region. Georgian authorities announced the country's Euro-Atlantic integration irreversible, as the western forces promise sustainable and impartial backing to the South Caucasus nation.