2018-05-18
Georgia-US strategic partnership, the country's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the upcoming NATO Summit in Brussels, and prospects of further security cooperation between the two nations were discussed during today's meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Commander of US European Command (EUCOM), Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO, General Curtis Scaparrotti.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked the American side for support in the implementation of the ambitious Georgia Defense Readiness Program (GDRP), which launches today to train a total of nine maneuver battalions within three years. Today, the opening ceremony of the NATO standards Combat Training Center (CTC), also built at the Vaziani Base under said program, will be held.
As the Head of Government pointed out during the meeting, accession to NATO is the key priority of the country foreign and security policies alike, and an expression of the unwavering will of the Georgian people. The country's reforms and progress are grounded in the values, standards, and criteria proclaimed by NATO and the EU.
The American General, for his part, emphasized Georgia's progress in democratic development and the modernization of its armed forces and defense institutions, and confirmed the US firm support of Georgia on the path to Alliance membership, also underscoring that the EUCOM stands ready to continue its active support of the training of Georgia's armed forces and of their interoperability with NATO.
Special emphasis was placed on the country's contribution to international security, especially the importance of the participation of Georgian troops in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
As it was specifically underlined during the meeting, NATO considers Georgia as one of its most loyal, compatible, and reliable partners, and that US-Georgia bilateral defense relations seek to put in place steady and reliable defense capabilities.
Emphasis was also placed on NATO's active role in ensuring security in the Black Sea Region and Georgia's commitment to make its contribution to this process.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that, at the upcoming NATO Summit in Brussels this coming July, the partners will duly assess and reflect Georgia's progress in terms of both democratic development and NATO integration, and that they will make decisions further to cement the practical cooperation between NATO and Georgia.
The meeting at the Administration of the Government was attended by Defense Minister Levan Izoria, Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua, Chief of General Staff Major General Vladimer Chachibaia, US Chargé d'Affaires to Georgia Elizabeth Rudd, and the US delegation.
Prime Minister's Press Office