Georgian forces more capable than ever, says NATO Deputy Secretary General
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Georgia is committed to the ambitious reform path it has started, says NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.
Gottemoeller, who is paying a two-day visit to Tbilisi, spoke at a joint press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze earlier today.
She stressed that NATO continues to support Georgia, helping to boost its defence capabilities and to prepare the country for NATO membership.
"Through our cooperation over so many years, Georgian forces have become more capable and more interoperable than ever before”, Gottemoeller said.
She said that in 2014 NATO leaders agreed on the Substantial Package of Assistance in order to strengthen Georgia’s defence and its ability to work side by side with NATO forces, and in order to help Georgia prepare for NATO membership.
She added that Georgia is a committed aspirant country and NATO will keep its promise to help it.
"NATO will soon be joined by a new member and this is Montenegro. [This] demonstrates NATO’s commitment to the open door policy, which is a very relevant notion for Georgia”, Gottemoeller said, adding Montenegro joining NATO sends "a very positive signal” to other aspiring countries such as Georgia.
"Georgia, you are very special aspiring country" - @Gottemoeller#NatoPaTbilisi
— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) May 29, 2017
She also thanked Georgia for its contribution to NATO missions.
"We are very grateful to Georgia’s contributions to the alliance and for the service of Georgian soldiers. Georgia is the biggest non-NATO contributor to our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, among other activities. Georgia is also contributing to the NATO Response Force and NATO exercises”, she said.
Photo: NATO press office.
Before speaking to the press, Janelidze and Gottemoeller signed the exchange of letters between NATO and the government of Georgia on the status of NATO and NATO personnel.
Gottemoeller said that this sounds like a technical document but it is a very important one because it is for further deepening Georgia-NATO relations.
"NATO will continue to count on Georgia and we will continue to support you”, she said.
During her visit to Georgia, Gottemoeller will meet with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
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NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller says that Georgia is a model and the country should maintain its pace to become a member of the alliance.