Warsaw Communiqué: Georgia-NATO relationship contains all tools for eventual membership

NATO will provide support as Georgia develops its air defence and air surveillance mechanisms.

This was stated in the Warsaw Summit Communiqué issued today by leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the Polish capital Warsaw.

The document encouraged partners who aspired to join the Alliance – such as Georgia - to continue to implement the "necessary reforms and decisions” to prepare for membership.

We will continue to offer support to their efforts and look to them to take the steps necessary to advance their aspirations,” the Communiqué said.

This paragraph was followed by a sentence where NATO praised Georgia’s reforms. The text also said the Alliance remained committed to the idea that Georgia would eventually become a NATO member.

"At the 2008 Bucharest Summit we agreed that Georgia will become a member of NATO with a Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; today we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions,” the document read.

We welcome the significant progress realised since 2008. Georgia’s relationship with the Alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership.”

NATO leaders also stressed the importance of Georgia’s upcoming Parliamentary Elections in October.

This year’s Parliamentary Elections will be another key step towards the consolidation of democratic institutions,” the document said.

NATO encouraged Georgia to continue making full use of all the opportunities for coming closer to the Alliance offered by the NATO-Georgia Commission, the Annual National Programme, its role as an enhanced opportunities partner, its participation in NATO’s Defence Capacity Building Initiative, and the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.

NATO highly appreciates Georgia’s significant and continuous contributions to the NATO Response Force and the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and recognises the sacrifices and contributions the Georgian people have made to our shared security,” the Communiqué said.

The following paragraph welcomed the "important progress” made in implementing the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, which was initiated at the Wales Summit last year.

The document said that more than 30 experts from Allied and partner countries were now supporting Georgia across various areas of cooperation.

NATO leaders confirmed Georgia was doing its part in allocating significant resources to this effort. They said the Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, which helped to strengthen Georgia’s self-defence and resilience capabilities, was up and running.

"We will continue to provide the resources needed to implement the Substantial Package, which aims to strengthen Georgia's capabilities and, thereby, helps Georgia advance in its preparations for membership in the Alliance,” the Communiqué read.

We have agreed additional practical ways to intensify efforts, including support to Georgia’s crisis management capabilities, training and exercises, and improvements in strategic communications.”

Allies will provide support to the development of Georgia’s air defence and air surveillance. We will also deepen our focus on security in the Black Sea region.”

The document reiterated NATO’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. It also welcomed Georgia’s commitment not to use force and called on Russia to reciprocate.

"We call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states, to stop its construction of border-like obstacles along the Administrative Boundary Lines, and to withdraw its forces from Georgia,” the document said.

NATO does not recognise the so-called treaties signed between the Abkhazia region of Georgia and Russia in November 2014, and the South Ossetia region of Georgia and Russia in March 2015. These violate Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and blatantly contradict the principles of international law, OSCE [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] principles and Russia’s international commitments.”

NATO encouraged all participants in the Geneva Talks to play a constructive role, as well as to continue working closely with the OSCE, the United Nations, and the European Union to pursue peaceful conflict resolution in the internationally recognised territory of Georgia.