Tangible benefits arise from Defence Minister’s European Tour
UK supports Georgia’s sovereignty, Euro-Atlantic aspirations

Georgia’s Minister of Defence is on the final leg of her ten-day European tour to attract foreign support for Georgia as it strives to gain a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at next year’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Warsaw, Poland.

Minister Tinatin Khidasheli has visited Poland and several Baltic states and is now holding official meetings in the United Kingdom (UK).

Already Khidasheli has met with Deputy Head of the UK State Secretary for Reserves Julian Brazier. The UK agency is responsible for armed forces recruitment, reserves, international defence engagement and supporting of European Union (EU) and NATO policy.

The meeting revealed several positive outcomes for Georgia; the UK stated it was ready to support Georgia in the process of creating and refining a state military reserve system.

The UK Defence Ministry was also ready to discuss the involvement of British soldiers in exercises at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre in Georgia.

The Centre opened on August 27 in the framework of the NATO-Georgia Substantial Package, said Georgia’s Defence Ministry in a statement.

The Centre, located at Krtsanisi military base in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, is thought to be a place where Georgian and NATO militaries will undergo trainings.

The facility will have the capability to host multinational, joint and combined exercises and trainings, and will also serve as a place where servicemen can be evaluated and gain certification.

The United Kingdom supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and encourages Georgia’s striving to NATO and EU,” the Georgia’s Ministry of Defence said.

Meanwhile yesterday Khidasheli met General Secretary of Liberal International Emil Kirjas in London to discuss Georgia’s liberal values and raise international awareness of Georgian issues.

According to the Liberal International website, the organisation is a political international federation for liberal political parties that aimed to win general acceptance of liberal principles and to foster the growth of a free society based on personal liberty, personal responsibility and social justice.

Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli with General Secretary of Liberal International Emil Kirjas. Photo by Ministry of Defence.

Liberal International can play an effective mediator role among Georgia and those international organisations that influence decision-making processes in the international arena,” Khidasheli said.

The main aim of #Russian Federation - capturing the "Corridore of Freedom" #Georgia@tinakhidashelipic.twitter.com/L7Z6jKxDNy

— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) September 15, 2015

Also yesterday the Georgian Minister delivered a speech at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London.

One Twitter user provided a message of the speech dedicated to defence and security issues:

Georgian defence minister: NATO says it can't admit Georgia because part of it is occupied, but Germany joined when part of it was occupied.

— Edisa (@EdisWorldView) September 15, 2015

Minister Khidasheli began her European tour on September 9 and she is due to return home on September 18.

Khidasheli is going today to take part in a BBC HARD talk programme that is famous for its In-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions and sensitive topics. Georgia's Defence Ministry shared this news on its official Twitter account:

Minister of #Defence of #Georgia at #BBC Hard Talk recording. Will be aired of monday! @BBCHARDtalkpic.twitter.com/Ms1ioJOBMk

— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) September 16, 2015