NATO Defence Ministers voice support for Georgia

The NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) at the level of Defence Ministers is applauding  Georgia’s progress in implementing the NATO substantial package and reaffirmed that Georgia has come closer to the Alliance through its ambitious reforms.

After today’s Commission meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, the NGC released a joint statement which covered several important topics that were discussed at the meeting, including the NATO-Georgia substantial package, NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, Georgia’s contribution to international missions and the Partnership Interoperability Initiative launched at the NATO Wales Summit.

"We took stock of the implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package which was endorsed by Allied Heads of State and governments at the Wales Summit. The measures in this package aim to strengthen Georgia’s defence and interoperability capabilities with the Alliance, which will help Georgia advance in its preparations towards membership in the Alliance,” the statement read.

The NGC also emphasized Georgia’s clear progress in implementing the substantial package, including setting up a NATO core team for Defence Capacity Building and making preparations for the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre and the Defence Institution Building School.

"Allied Ministers recalled the Wales Summit decisions, in particular that Georgia has made significant progress since the Bucharest Summit and has come closer to NATO by implementing ambitious reforms and making good use of the NGC and the ANP; and that Georgia’s relationship with the Alliance contains the tools necessary to continue moving Georgia forward towards eventual membership," read the statement. 

"NATO Ministers recalled the agreement of Heads of State and governments at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia will become a member of NATO and reaffirmed all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions.” 

Furthermore, NATO Ministers expressed strong appreciation for "Georgia’s sizeable contribution” to NATO’s operations and missions including the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, to which Georgia was the second largest overall contributor.

"Together with Georgia’s participation in the NATO Response Force and in EU-led operations, these contributions demonstrate Georgia’s role as a contributor to our shared security in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond. NATO Ministers expressed their gratitude to all the members of the Georgian Armed Forces who have served in ISAF, and extended their deepest sympathies to the families of those Georgian soldiers who lost their lives or were injured on this mission” the statement said.

"Georgia, an aspirant country, participates in the Interoperability Platform to work with NATO to take forward dialogue and practical cooperation on interoperability issues as part of the Partnership Interoperability Initiative launched at the Wales Summit. As a partner that makes particularly significant contributions to NATO operations; with a high degree of interoperability; and participating in a wide range of other major NATO initiatives and activities, Georgia benefits from enhanced opportunities to further deepen political dialogue and practical cooperation within the Partnership Interoperability Initiative,” it read.

NATO Defence Ministers welcomed the steady progress Georgia has shown in implementing its Annual National Program (ANP), including its defence reform. 

NATO Ministers noted the positive trends in Georgia’s democratic development, and encouraged Georgia to continue implementation of reforms, including consolidating democratic institutions, taking forward judicial reforms, and ensuring full respect for the rule of law.

Finally, the NGC members condemned steps taken by Russia in Georgia, which were "in breach of Russia’s international obligations and commitments.”

The statement noted Russia’s actions, in particular the recent signature of the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia, contradicted principles of international law and expressed concern over the preparations for the signature of a similar ‘agreement’with another breakaway region, Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

"Allied Ministers reaffirmed their strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders, which these ‘agreements’ aim to undermine. NATO Ministers also reaffirmed their continued policy of non-recognition, and reiterated their call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states and to withdraw its forces from Georgia," said the NGC statement.

"Allied Ministers welcomed Georgia’s active and constructive participation in the Geneva Talks and encouraged all participants to these negotiations to play a constructive role, as well as to continue working closely with the OSCE, UN and the EU to pursue peaceful conflict resolution on Georgia’s territory.”