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NATO Week 2016: What does Georgia want from Warsaw Summit?

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili opened a NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum in Tbilisi this morning. Photo by PM’s press office
Agenda.ge, 04 Apr 2016 - 13:11, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia wants to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and at this year’s NATO Summit in Warsaw, the country wants to hear a "clear message” that it is getting closer to the alliance.

This was the message Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili shared as he opened a NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum in Tbilisi this morning.

  • The forum, the first of its kind, marked the beginning of NATO Week 2016 in Georgia - an annual event aiming to raise awareness of the role of NATO and highlighting Georgia’s recent success in moving closer to the Alliance.
  • This year Georgia hosted the NATO Week for the ninth time.

PM Kvirikashvili opened today’s forum by commenting on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. He said he hoped the international community’s efforts would see the situation deescalate in the neighbourhood, which was "utterly important” for ensuring peace and stability in the region and world.

Kvirikashvili then talked about Georgia’s NATO aspirations. He said Georgia didn’t spare any effort to maintain positive dynamics in integration into the Alliance and intensify NATO-Georgia relations.

"Georgia enjoys progress and tangible results in this direction” he said.

"Georgia as an aspirant country attaches much importance to strengthening relations with the North Atlantic Alliance and carries out important responsibilities by participating in the NATO Response Force and NATO missions.”
"In respect with getting closer to NATO, at the Warsaw Summit Georgia expects very important progress in both political and practical directions.”

The Prime Minister stressed Georgia’s NATO aspirations were not directed against any third party.

Alongside the PM, Georgia’s State Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze spoke at the forum, which was attended by NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ted Whiteside.

Tomorrow, the second day of the forum will give the tribune to President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli.

Khidasheli attended today’s event too and said at the Warsaw Summit Georgia would not ask for a Membership Action Plan (MAP), noting Georgia’s ultimate goal was membership itself not a MAP.

"We are not asking for a MAP at the Warsaw Summit but not asking doesn’t mean not expecting. These are two different things,” Khidasheli said.

"And we aren’t asking for a MAP because we have enjoyed a far more important step at last December’s NATO Ministerial.”
"As a defence minister, my main goal is to achieve an agreement at the Warsaw Summit which will increase Georgia’s defence ability. However, our ultimate goal is membership and we keep moving to this direction.”

NATO Week 2016 will last until April 19 and will feature a number of educational and cultural events to raise NATO awareness in Tbilisi and across Georgia.