Georgian FM: NATO should set out more comprehensive strategy for Black Sea region
Georgian FM David Zalkaliani told participants of the Munich Security Conference that Russia is the major threat to the Euro-Atlantic security. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that it is time NATO offer a more comprehensive strategy to the Black Sea region, as a “secure Europe is unimaginable without a secured Black Sea.”
Delivering his speech at the event dedicated to Black Sea security at the Munich Security Conference today, Zalkaliani said that accepting countries from the Black Sea region into the alliance will benefit NATO.
The open door policy for the Black Sea region countries will help NATO strengthen security in the region and deal with the challenges on its Eastern flank,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani said NATO’s new strategy is particularly important as Russia has openly aggressive goals in the Black Sea region, citing Georgia and Ukraine as examples and victims of the aggression.
Georgia has dealt with the full-scale hybrid war from Russia since 1990s. It was obvious from the beginning that Russia had no plans to adapt with the new international order and was taking steps to regain its lost, dominant power in the region,” Zalkaliani said.
Honoured to have an opportunity to exchange views on #BlackSea security and role of @NATO in the region. We welcome strong #NATO engagement & presence in the Black Sea. Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft, @MunSecConf pic.twitter.com/coLJnKjdII
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) February 15, 2019
Zalkaliani said that Russia openly revealed its aggressive goals when it unleashed the war against Georgia in 2008 and occupied the two Georgian regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Russia continues the occupation of the Georgian regions, its militarisation and has taken steps to annex the territories,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani stated that Georgia has always stood by NATO and that the country is eager to boost its contribution to regional security.
We are ready for this especially when the security concerns our region,” Zalkaliani said.
He said that the NATO and the EU member states also become targets of the Russian aggression and that the continued ignorance of the international obligations and laws by Russia undermines the Euro-Atlantic security.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the upcoming Munich Security Conference, the world’s largest gathering of its kind, will be maximally used for pushing forward Georgian issues.
The North Atlantic Council (NAC), a principal political decision-making body of NATO, held a meeting with Georgian and Ukrainian officials in Brussels. Regional security issues, along with Russia’s recent activities against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov, were key issues on the agenda of yesterday’s meeting, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.
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.
Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria has held meetings with his foreign counterparts and other officials at the Munich Security Conference that ran from 15-17 February.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that the ministry and NATO will cooperate more actively in Black Sea security, as Georgia has no naval forces and the ministry is responsible for the coast’s protection.
NATO Foreign Ministers will meet to mark the seventieth anniversary of the Alliance and focus on Black Sea security issues on Wednesday evening, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference today.
Two Russian military ships have been tracking the United States Ship Ross that entered the Black Sea over a week ago. The USS Ross, which aims “to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners”, is visiting Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi from April 21-25.