Georgian delegation leaves for Wales with “great expectations”
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A Georgian delegation, led by President Giorgi Margvelashvili, has left for the United Kingdom to take part in the NATO Summit in Wales on September 4 and 5.
Before the Summit, President Margvelashvili was scheduled to hold meetings in London, where today he is due to deliver a speech about "Georgia and European security in terms of Ukrainian crisis” at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Later today Margvelashvili is scheduled to meet President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti.
Meanwhile at the NATO Summit on Thursday and Friday, the Georgian President will attend meeting of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission member states, in which Georgia contributed troops. He is also expected to hold bilateral meeting with different state leaders and international organisation leaders.
Interviews with local and international media are also scheduled.
The Georgian delegation to Wales included:
- Defence Minister Irakli Alasania,
- Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze,
- State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili,
- Secretary of the National Security Council Irina Imerlishvili,
- Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze,
- President Margvelashvili’s foreign adviser Tengiz Pkhaladze, and
- Georgia's Ambassador to NATO Levan Dolidze.
Before leaving, Defence Minister Alasania said the Summit would be focused on increasing military abilities of the NATO countries and Georgia.
"As far as I have been informed, taking particular steps is planned in order for Georgia to be given more possibilities to protect its territory and society,’’ Alasania said.
Foreign Minister Panjikidze said she also had high hopes of the Summit.
"We have great expectations in terms of a concrete package and a serious message that Georgia is closer to the alliance,’’ she noted.
NATO earlier said Georgia would not be issued a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the Summit but would be offered an "unprecedented package”.
Yesterday NATO Security General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the package the Alliance planned to offer would assist Georgia continue reforms and modernisation of its defence and security sector and "step up” its efforts to improve the ability of the Georgian Armed Forces to work and operate alongside NATO forces, "including more Georgian participation in NATO exercises”.
NATO may hold military exercises in Georgia and establish a military training centre in the country, see more Georgian participation in NATO exercises and possibly expand the local NATO liaison office - a top NATO official said.
With six days to go until Georgia participates in the NATO Summit in Wales, Georgian high officials are looking forward to positive outcomes from the annual meeting.
The NATO Summit meeting in Wales comes at a critical time in the Alliance’s history – when the global security environment is becoming increasingly unpredictable and unstable, says NATO.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should support non-member countries to build up their defensive capabilities to allow them to protect their region.
NATO’s regional envoy for the Caucasus region has summed up his "important visit” yesterday to Georgia on social media.
NATO’s regional envoy for the Caucasus region has offered his reassurances to the Georgian nation that the country will become more secure following the NATO Summit in Wales later this year.
NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai will pay an official visit to Georgia to discuss the "substantive package” NATO will offer Georgia at the Wales Summit in September.
Elements of the "an unprecedented package” which Georgia will be offered from NATO is already revealed by NATO Secretary General Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has agreed in principle to offer "a substantive package” to Georgia to help it come closer to NATO but made no mention of membership.
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On the opening day of the NATO Summit in Wales, Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili met NATO’s top official and spoke briefly on the support package NATO will offer Georgia in the next two days.
The State Minister of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili explains the meaning of the package being offered by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) to Georgia at the NATO Summit in the United Kingdom.
The President of Georgia participated in a meeting of leaders of ISAF countries at the NATO Summit in Wales last night and addressed the audience.
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Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelasvili is rubbing shoulders with world leaders at the NATO Summit in Wales, United Kingdom.
Georgia’s efforts have been recognised by NATO leaders at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Summit in Wales. NATO officials praised Georgia for its efforts to progress its nation and reconfirmed its intentions to one day invite Georgia into the Alliance.
The NATO Summit in Wales has ended and the President of Georgia is leaving on a high note. Giorgi Margvelashvili commended the UK Government for its "gracious hospitality and excellent organisation of the Summit" and thanked the Georgian delegation "for achieving success" at the international leaders' meeting.
The US President’s Administration issued a statement that emphasized the efforts of the US an NATO to support Alliance partners and share their burdens and support them when needed "to accomplish our common security goals”.
NATO’s representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia region has explained a part of the Wales Summit Declaration relating to conflict in the region.
Days after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit in Wales ended, United States (US) Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel is visiting Georgia on his first official visit. In a meeting with Georgian officials yesterday, Hagel pledged the US would help the former Soviet republic improve its security.