Georgian PM: We firmly believe that Georgia’s NATO integration is the guarantee of peace
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated that the international community should be unanimous in protection of interests of a sovereign country. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated at the international Georgian Defence and Security Conference in Batumi today that Georgia’s integration into NATO is the guarantee of peace and security in the country.
Georgian NATO integration is also important for regional security,” Bakhtadze said today while addressing 300 participants of the conference from different states, which include high-level Georgian and foreign politicians, defence and security experts, civil society, media and academic field representatives.
Just opened #GeorgiaDefenceandSecurity Conference, in todays multi-connected world we face number of #Challenges that needs to be #tackled on #Global as well as #Regional levels. #GDSC is our effort to address emerging threats to ???????? & Euro-Atlantic security infrastructure.
— Mamuka Bakhtadze (@BakhtadzeMamuka) November 1, 2018
Bakhtadze said that the Georgian Defence and Security Conference has turned into a “unique regional forum” over the course of the past 12 years, in which the security challenges of the Euro-Atlantic space and the region are being discussed.
Georgia and NATO
Bakhtadze spoke about the progress Georgia has made towards NATO.
He said that Georgia is in “full line with NATO standards” with its spendings for defence and purchase of weapons.
Georgian defence expenses amount to two per cent of the country’s GDP and we have boosted finances for the purchase of defence armament up to 20 per cent,” Bakhtadze said.
Bakhtadze emphasised Georgia’s role for international peace and security and praised the bravery of 870 Georgian soldiers who are fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, side by side with NATO members and allies.
The Georgian Defence and Security Conference is being held for the 12th time. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
The PM also mentioned the role of Georgian soldiers who participate in peace missions of Central Africa and Mali.
PM Bakhtadze on the occupation
Bakhtadze said that the Russian occupation of historic Georgian lands remains the “most severe challenge” for the country.
On the 10th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war I will directly say that there is the most severe humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied regions. The growing militarisation of the regions causes depopulation. There is a severe humanitarian, socio-economic and human rights situation in the regions,” Bakhtadze said.
The illegal barbed-wire-fences divide families and violate fundamental human rights. Illegal detentions, abduction, torture and murder of Georgian citizens continue,” Bakhtadze told the audience.
Bakhtadze said that Russian actions in the Georgian regions, the growing militarisation, frequent drills by the occupant and provision of war weapons create threats not only for Georgia, but also for the region.
Bakhtadze said that Russia still refuses to fulfil the 2008 ceasefire agreement signed with Georgia to withdraw its troops from the country.
Defence Minister Levan Izoria spoke about the planned reforms in his body. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
How to respond to occupation
Bakhtadze says that the international community can play a “vital role” for the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict.
The international community should be unanimous and firm in protecting the interests of a sovereign country,” Bakhtadze said.
He stated that for its part the Georgian government has taken steps and pushed forward peace initiatives to help improve the social, economic and humanitarian situation in the occupied regions, in order to restore people-to-people ties.
Bakhtadze praised the role of the United States in Georgia’s increased security and mentioned the letter by the US Defence Secretary, in which James Mattis praises Georgia for fundamental reforms in the defence field.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili also delivered his speech at the conference, where he spoke about the “Georgians’ irreversible choice of NATO and EU” and the merit of the Georgian soldiers in peace missions, who “are laying grounds for integration.”