Defence Minister discusses Georgia’s NATO future in Canada
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Georgia’s ambitions for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) membership and Russia’s aggressive activities on Georgian soil were high on the agenda of Georgia’s Defence Minister during her official visit to Canada.
Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli was one of hundreds of representatives who attended the Halifax International Security Forum, held from November 20-22 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
During one of the sessions Khidasheli stressed that Russia revealed aggression to Georgia long before the August 2008 war.
Defence Minister: "Provoking #Russia" is what you should never say to #Georgians" #HISF2015https://t.co/LO31QyrMZHpic.twitter.com/XqXFbxQVUe
— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) November 23, 2015
Georgia was among the 300 representatives from more than 60 states that gathered to address regional and global security issues, existing challenges and make future plans.
At the session titled Cooperate, Contain, or Conquer: Prioritizing Strategy 70 Years On, Georgia’s top defence official delivered a speech that focused on the challenges and future threats the West faced after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall.
Georgia's Defence Minister met with her Canadian counterpart, Photo by Defence Ministry webpage.
Within the framework of the forum Khidasheli met with the Deputy Defence Secretary of the United States (US) Robert Work, National Defence Minister of Canada Harjit Sajjan, Defence Minister of the Netherlands Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Defence Minister of Albania Mimi Kodheli, Defence Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Zoran Jolevski and Montenegro’s Defence Minister Milica Pejanonic Durisic.
A major part of all of her meetings related to discussing Georgia-NATO relations and the implementation of the Substantial Package NATO granted Georgia last year.
Following the meetings the Georgian Defence Minister unveiled new details regarding Georgia’s relationship with its foreign partners.
I spoke with the Defence Minister of Albania and we specified the details of our next meeting, as we intent to visit [Albania] in December this year.
From the Netherlands we asked for more support in the frame of the NATO-Georgia Substantial Package. We invited the Minister to Georgia. We also discussed several concrete formats of future cooperation,” said Khidasheli.
When it comes to Montenegro, it is one of the hottest issues right now as we wait to see if the NATO open-door policy will be confirmed in December this year by inviting Montenegro to join NATO,” Khidasheli said.
The Georgian official also invited her Canadian counterpart to Georgia, who promised Khidasheli closer cooperation as Georgia worked to implement the obligations outlined in the NATO-Georgia current deal.
Canada was due to participate in the creation of the Vocational Development School, scheduled to open in Georgia in 2016, as one of the obligations of the Substantial Package.
The forum ended yesterday and Khidasheli has completed all her official meetings in Canada.
Every time the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) refuses to enlarge and open its door to Georgia, Russia takes it as a sign to reveal its aggression towards Georgia, says the country’s Minister of Defence.
Georgia is asking NATO to offer the country a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the Warsaw Summit planned for July 2016.
A special YouTube report by Jeff Holden from NATOchannel.tv outlined the mission and detailed the importance of Georgia’s contribution to NATO missions, despite it not being a member nation.
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.
Permanent representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have commended Georgia on the reforms carried out in 2015 and its efforts to improve in a range of areas to meet top, international standards.
Berlin is a friend and partner of Georgia, says Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli after meeting her German counterpart.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibahsvili believes Georgia has fulfilled all obligations leading towards further integration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and now it was time to patiently wait for next year’s NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) claims it remains committed to its open-door policy and is encouraging its partners to continue implementing necessary reforms to prepare for Alliance membership.
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