Czech Republic supports Georgia’s NATO aspirations

The Czech Republic firmly supports Georgia’s NATO integration and hopes the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales will appropriately recognize the country’s progress.

Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek met his Georgian counterpart Maia Panjikidze in Tbilisi today, which was followed by a joint press conference.

Speaking to media, the Czech politician expressed his belief Georgia was ready to receive a Membership Action Plan (MAP) from the North Atlantic Alliance.

"Alliance members are now discussing what to offer Georgia at the upcoming Summit,” he said.

"Unfortunately the final decision is still far away. At the end of this month, a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting will be held. The decision making process is undergoing in parallel with the Ukrainian crisis, which makes it difficult to predict what will happen,” he said.

At the same press conference, Foreign Minister Panjikidze said NATO would make its decision about Georgia "a bit earlier” than the Summit date, which was scheduled for September 2014.

"We do not want to have too high expectations but what we can say for sure is that at the next Summit Georgia’s progress will be adequately reflected,” Panjikidze said.

Meanwhile, the Georgian and Czech Foreign Ministers signed an agreement of cooperation in culture, education, science, youth and sport.

Zaoralek was accompanied on his two-day official visit to Georgia by a delegation of Czech business officials. The group will take part in a round table meeting with the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

The business delegation are also expected to hold meetings with the National Investment Agency, where they will be introduced to Georgia's business environment.

In the meantime, Zaoralek is scheduled to meet Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, chairperson of Parliament Davit Usupashvili and other high ranking officials.