Latvian Parliament Speaker supports Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future

Georgia is being discussed as a NATO membership candidate country, says Latvian Parliament Speaker Solvita Aboltina.

Latvia’s Speaker of Parliament met Georgian officials during her two-day official visit to Tbilisi today.

At today’s meeting with her Georgian counterpart David Usupashvili, Aboltina said she was sure US President Barack Obama’s comments were "misinterpreted” and the North Atlantic Alliance still counted Georgia as a possible member country.

Several days ago Obama stated there were not any immediate plans to expand NATO’s membership.

His comments were later explained by the President’s Administration, who claimed Obama’s remarks reflected the fact that Georgia, at this moment, was asking for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) not membership.

Aboltina said her country would support Georgia to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union as soon as possible.

She claimed next year, when Latvia will gain EU Presidency, the Eastern Partnership would be one of the top priorities of the organisation.

After the meeting, Usupashvili stressed the friendly relations between the two countries.

He said the parties noted the democratic world needed to be "even more ready” for possible challenges it could face, in light of the Ukrainian conflict.

Meanwhile, Latvia’s support for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration was discussed at a meeting between Aboltina and the Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze today.