FM Zalkaliani on NATO-Georgia relations, Black Sea security
Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani is travelling to the United States on April 3-4. Photo: Foreign Ministry's press office
Tweet 
Share
Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani participated in a discussion dedicated to the seventieth anniversary of NATO on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial on April 3 in the United States.
In Washington DC on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial. Glad to be speaking at the side event - #NATOengages: The Alliance at 70 #AtlanticCouncil #GMF #MSC. #NATO70 #ForMin
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) April 3, 2019
Minister Zalkaliani reiterated that the European Union and NATO integration remains among Georgia's key foreign policy priorities.
Georgia is recognised as a frontrunner among other aspirant countries and today Georgia is absolutely different than it was ten years ago, which demonstrates significant change in its state institutions, in building vibrant democratic society, in liberal market economy and free media – all of this we see in the context of NATO integration”, Zalkaliani added.
The Georgian Minister said that having occupied two of the Georgian regions Russia “is increasing its military presence on the Black Sea in Abkhazia” as well as far beyond the region.
He also underscored that Georgia is “very actively engaged in strategic dialogue” on how to strengthen Black Sea security with its NATO partners.
.@LinkeviciusL, @IKlympush, @DZalkaliani, @Dimitrov_Nikola, @gkatr discuss enlarging security in the neighborhood, moderated by Heather Conley of @CSISEurope. Watch live: https://t.co/F25rB33mY2 #NATOEngages pic.twitter.com/dmfaJAZV2b
— German Marshall Fund (@gmfus) April 3, 2019
The session on “Enlarging Security in the Neighbourhood: The Legacy and Future of NATO Partnerships” was co-hosted by the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund and the Munich Security Conference in partnership with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division in Washington.
In Washington DC Minister Zalkaliani is joining events on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial dedicated to the seventieth anniversary of the Alliance.
He is also holding meetings with his counterparts of NATO-member states and representatives of the US government.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani spoke at the South-South Cooperation Conference in Buenos Aires and stated Georgia is ready to cooperate with all countries to share its experience gained throughout the years.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has held meetings with officials in Uruguay during his tour in Latin America from March 17-23.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has delivered a speech at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani has started his official visit to Spain yesterday. He will hold several meetings with the Spanish government officials until January 29.
“We have stepped up support for our close partners, Georgia and Ukraine, sovereign nations with the sovereign right to choose their own path”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated during the joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington on Wednesday.
NATO Foreign Ministers have agreed on a package of measures to improve the Alliance’s situational awareness in the Black Sea region and strengthen support for its partners – Georgia and Ukraine.
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says that the only way for Georgia to accede into NATO at present is through the use of the EU-Cyprus model.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani held a meeting with the US Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Phillip Reeker in Washington D.C. yesterday. Zalkaliani and Reeker discussed the Georgia-US strategic partnership, regional security and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has pushed forward the issue of the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali and the current situation at the occupation line at his meetings with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger.
Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Gakharia, who has opened the fifth North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting in Georgia’s western coastal city of Batumi earlier today, told NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and the audience that the meeting venue is symbolic because of the importance of Black Sea security.