NATO Deputy Sec-Gen, Georgian FM discuss Russia, NATO allies’ negotiations on EU security
Nato Deputy Secretary-General Geoana stated that Georgia is ‘a valued NATO partner, adding that ‘we support every nation's right to freely choose their own security arrangements.’ Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and NATO allies with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Mircea Geoana during a phone call yesterday ahead of the NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled on January 12, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia (FMA) reports.
Zalkaliani said that his talk with Geoana is ‘a logical continuation’ of a conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, in which they discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe, on January 5.
Cooperation with Georgia, strategic partnership and tackling our issues are top priorities of our partners,” Zalkaliani said.
Today I held a phone call with @NATO‘s Deputy SecGen @Mircea_Geoana regarding the ongoing discussions on the European security. It is important that #NATO stays committed to the Open Door Policy and firmly supports sovereign choices of nations. https://t.co/OyTs69RcG9
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) January 10, 2022
Zalkaliani also said that his conversation with Geoana ‘is a confirmation of the constant attention given to Georgia by the partners,’ noting that ‘NATO is not going to reconsider its position regarding Georgia.’
I received reassurances from the NATO Deputy Secretary-General that NATO is consistent in its decisions and that European security is based on the security of partners,” Zalkaliani states.
Nato Deputy Secretary-General Geoana stated that Georgia is ‘a valued NATO partner, adding that ‘we support every nation's right to freely choose their own security arrangements.’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that, prior to the NATO-Russia council, they are ‘consulting closely’ with NATO partners, including Georgia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, and the EU.
The Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue took place yesterday in Geneva, after which US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slamNATO's open door policy shut,’ while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that ‘Russia needs concrete guarantees that Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members.’
Russia released a statement on December 10 demanding NATO member states rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia's and Ukraine's goal of becoming members of the alliance.
Georgia condemned the statement, calling it ‘unacceptable.’