Georgian parliamentary speaker: Becoming a Euro-Atlantic family member is Georgia’s first priority

NATO and EU do not simply mean a better economy and increased security, but first and foremost are part of the values that Georgia is developed on, speaker of the Georgian parliament Irakli Kobakhidze said at an event held yesterday on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Georgia-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council in Batumi.

"Becoming a member of the Euro-Atlantic family is our major priority and it is the decision based on the values of the Georgian people, not the Georgian government. Let’s work together for peace and development in the world,” Irakli Kobakhidze said while addressing attendees. 

The President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Paolo Ali, also confirmed the assembly’s support for Georgia saying that "supporting Georgia means supporting peace and stability in Black Sea Region.”

The 97th NATO PA Rose-Roth Seminar is being held in Batumi on April 23-25 and brings together approximately 200 participants, including 62 members of parliament from 23 NATO member states and partner countries. 

The three-day meeting will assess the progress made by Georgia since the creation of the NATO-Georgia Commission and its parliamentary counterpart, the Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council in 2008. 

Participants will also examine the security and political landscape in the wider Black Sea area as well as Central Asia.