NATO Week 2015 begins in Georgia

The annual NATO Week has begun in Georgia aiming to raise awareness of the role of NATO and highlight Georgia’s recent success in moving closer to the North Atlantic organisation.

Georgia’s desire to strengthen its relationship with the West was reaffirmed at the event’s official opening ceremony, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the NATO and European Union (EU) Information Centre in Georgia, yesterday.

NATO Week was officially opened by Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who addressed the audience and spoke about Georgian soldiers’ contribution to international peacekeeping missions.

"I would like to once more pay tribute to the memory of your comrades who fought for global peace and stability and who raised the Georgian flag so high in the international arena,” the President told Georgian servicemen who had recently returned home from serving in Afghanistan.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister also spoke at the event. Giorgi Kvirikashvili said being a NATO member would guarantee Georgia’s security and independence.

"Georgia’s NATO and EU integration is our return to the European family with whom we are linked to by our common values of democracy, freedom and human rights protection,” Kvirikashvili said, adding during its 66-year existence, NATO had proven it was the strongest alliance in the modern world’s history.

As well as President Margvelashvili and Foreign Minister Kvirikashvili, Georgia’s State Minister for European and Euro Atlantic Integration Davit Bakradze and head of the NATO Liaison Office William Lahue also spoke at yesterday’s event.

This year saw the NATO week held in Georgia for the eighth time. The opening event was attended by representatives of the President’s Administration, Secretary of the National Security Council, cabinet members, Government ministers, the Tbilisi City Mayor and other officials.

Meetings, international conferences and exhibitions featuring NATO-Georgia relations will take place in Tbilisi and other parts of Georgia throughout the week. Also, open days will be announced at military bases of Georgia’s Armed Forces and NATO member state Embassies in Tbilisi.

Georgia is an aspirant country for NATO membership. It actively contributes to NATO-led operations and cooperates with allies and other partner countries in many areas.