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.