Georgian Defence Minister participates in NATO ministerial, meets top NATO figures
Georgian Defence Minister and NATO Secretary General have discussed the plans for a “busy” 2019 in NATO-Georgia relations. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
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Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria is taking part in the NATO two-day foreign minister in Brussels, assembled to discuss pressing security issues, including Russia’s violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and to review NATO peace missions.
Today DefMin #Izoria met with @NATO 's SecGen @jensstoltenberg
— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) February 13, 2019
????????Unwavering aspiration to NATO membership
????Public support to NATO
????Upcoming NATO-Georgia Ex 2019
& more topics were discussed during the meeting#DefMin pic.twitter.com/yNGsJ2WZA4
Georgian NATO aspirations, the country’s role in Black Sea security and the upcoming joint military exercise in 2019 were top issues of the meeting between Izoria, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.
NATO officials stated that 2019 will be busy in terms of NATO-Georgia relations with visits, international exercises and other events,” the Georgian Defence Ministry stated.
On the sidelines of the ministerial Izoria met with the US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison.
It was a very interesting meeting. We have discussed very concrete prospects on how Georgia may become a member of NATO,” Izoria stated.
"Had a very interesting and meaningful meeting with @USAmbNATO where we discussed the PERSPECTIVES OF ????????MEMBERSHIP IN NATO and NATO's Open Door Policy that was recently implemented in relation to North Macedonia and previously Montenegro" - says DefMin #Izoria#DefMin
— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) February 13, 2019
???????????????? pic.twitter.com/t7ejKvLdtm
He said that the development of Georgia’s defence capabilities, the situation regarding the US-supported Georgian Defence Readiness Programme were also discussed at the meeting.
Bilateral consultations of ???????? and ???????? DefMins R. Karoblis and L. Izoria ahead of #NATO #DefMin meeting. #Lithuania expressed continuous support to #Georgia in areas of military training & education, stratcom, cyber security, and implementation of Substantial NATO-Georgia Package pic.twitter.com/pAxgl7gz3G
— Lithuania in NATO (@LitdelNATO) February 13, 2019
Izoria has met with his Lithuanian and Bulgarian counterparts in Brussels and thanked them for their support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the country’s Euro-Atlantic goals.
Bulgaria will be involved both in the NATO-Georgia 2019 exercise and the Agile Spirit 2019 drills.
For the first time Georgia will take full responsibility for the planning and the execution of the NATO-Georgia joint military exercise which will be held in March near Tbilisi with the participation of 22 NATO member states and allies, Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria told journalists today.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit Georgia in 2019.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated during the NATO Foreign Ministerial today that Georgia and Ukraine face serious security challenges from Russia and the alliance will continue to give both countries practical and political support.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated at the international Georgian Defence and Security Conference in Tbilisi today that Georgia’s integration into NATO is the guarantee of peace and security in the country.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that Georgian issues are always raised when he meets with Russian officials, Stoltenberg told Georgian media outlet 1TV.
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu says that the expansion of NATO military potential “destroys” the existing world security system and forces Russia to take responding steps, Shoygu said at a recent meeting in the Russian defence ministry.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in his annual report that “Georgia is a critical partner for the Alliance” and that the allies “have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to Georgia’s eventual membership”.
Georgian top officials, decision-makers, experts and foreign guests have gathered in Georgia’s coastal city of Batumi to attend the 13th Georgia Defence and Security Conference (GDSC) to discuss current defence and security issues and challenges.The following sessions are scheduled to take place during the two-day conference.
NATO Liaison Office Head to Georgia Rosaria Puglisi says that the alliance is not discussing Georgia’s membership with Article No. 5 on collective defence not covering the country’s two Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.