Georgian president meets with NATO Sec-Gen, Georgian occupied territories in focus
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili says it is important that NATO continues its open door policy. Photo: President’s press office.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has hosted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the presidential residency in Tbilisi earlier today.
She stated that the two Georgian occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the importance of the alliance’s open door policy were key issues of the meeting.
The NATO open door policy is the cornerstone of NATO-Georgian relations. We are happy that the open door policy continues and North Macedonia is an example,” Zurabishvili said.
She stated that the NATO-Georgia joint exercise and Stoltenberg’s coming to Georgia is a “clear message.”
The arrival speaks to our close partnership with NATO and that the path we have chosen is irreversible,” Zurabishvili said.
Jens #Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of @NATO, is visiting #Georgia, reiterating the Alliance’s support for our territorial integrity, our sovereignty, and our Euro-Atlantic integration. pic.twitter.com/lkD9jb4YHB
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) March 25, 2019
Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s illegal activities in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali and stated that Russia must withdraw its forces from Georgian territories and revoke the recognition of the regions as independent republics.
He praised Georgia as a reliable, honorable and a critical partner which contributes much to international peace and security.
We will help you to strengthen your self-defense capabilities, which is also in the interests of NATO,” Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg is one of the first international officials Zurabishvili met as Georgian president in January 2019.
While in Tbilisi, Stoltenberg has also met with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hopes Georgia can soon be welcomed into NATO, and praises the progress achieved by the country. He also urges Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgian territories.
The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will travel to Tbilisi on March 24-25. Stoltenberg will meet with President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze and other high-level officials.
The NATO-Georgia Exercise 2019 has started today at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC), National Training Center Krtsanisi, near Tbilisi, Georgia. The exercise is comprised of 21 allied nations and three NATO partner nations, including Georgia as the host nation.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that he will visit Georgia, which is a “unique partner of NATO”, in March 2019, during the NATO-Georgia joint military drills, in which 17 NATO member states will participate.
The de facto leadership of Abkhazia is unhappy with statements made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Tbilisi yesterday to the effect that Russia must withdraw its troops from Georgian territory.
The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia's occupied regions of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia, as the committee opened its meeting in Tbilisi earlier today.
Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani is paying a visit to Brussels, where he met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller at NATO headquarters today. He also spoke at a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated during the ongoing NATO leaders meeting in London that there is “more NATO in Georgia now than ever.”
Georgian officials have welcomed North Macedonia becoming the 30th member of NATO. President Salome Zurabishvili said the enlargement “of this great family” strengthens international security.