2016-09-07
Georgia has all the practical instruments for NATO membership. NATO member states support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, - Jens Stoltenberg stated during the session of the NATO-Georgia Commission.
Within the frames of the fourth visit of NAC, session of the NATO-Georgia Commission is held today. Secretary General of the NATO Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili delivered welcome speeches.
Jens Stoltenberg thanked Georgia for hosting the NAC and congratulated on the 25th anniversary of the country's independence.
"This is the fourth visit of the North Atlantic Council to Georgia. I would like to thank the Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Georgian people for the hospitality. We are glad to be here and to meet you. I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate you on the 25th anniversary of regaining independence," - Jens Stoltenberg stated and outlined that the Alliance highly values the contribution of Georgian military personnel in the process of protecting international security.
According to the Secretary General of NATO, various issues, including protection of the security in the Black Sea region and process of implementation of the substantial package will be discussed during the NATO-Georgia Commission.
"NATO-Georgia Commission was established in 2008 as a forum for political dialogue enhancement of the NATO-Georgia cooperation. During today's meeting of the Commission we will discuss various issues, including security of the Black Sea region and latest events related to the Euro-Atlantic security. We will also discuss the progress attained by Georgia with respect to the implementation of the Substantial Package. Respective package was elaborated during the Whales Summit in 2014 and was enhanced at the Warsaw Summit held last July. The members of Alliance are committed to enhance support to Georgia and develop our cooperation," - Jens Stoltenberg indicated.
The head of the Government thanked the Secretary General of NATO for supporting Georgia and highlighted Georgia's firm decision to become a member of Euro-Atlantic family.
"This meeting is a part of the important process that was launched during the NATO Warsaw Summit and aims at increasing Georgia's defensibility and preparation of the country for the membership. Becoming a member state of the NATO is a firm will of Georgian people and Government will spare no effort to achieve the said goal. Current security environment in the region and Euro-Atlantic space is quite challenging. Issues faced by us have quite an asymmetric nature and require novel approaches. In this context NATO, as the most successful Alliance carries particular significance," - Giorgi Kvirikashvili noted.
According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, NATO-Georgia military cooperation is extremely dynamic at the given stage, respective fact is demonstrated by two successful projects jointly implemented by NATO and Georgia, including NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Center and Defence Institution Building School.
"At the NATO Warsaw Summit ally countries have decided upon the new projects providing practical support to Georgia and today we will discuss upon implementation of these projects. Georgian party is engaged in the strategic discussions that have been launched lately within the NATO on the topic of Black Sea security. We are aware of the fact that the Black Sea region and Georgia are indispensable parts of European security and hence, European security is unimaginable without the stability in the region," - Prime Minister articulated/
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia will continue maximally effective utilization of available practical mechanisms to support and accelerate political decision of Georgia's accession to the NATO.
Prime Minister's Press Office