President Zurabishvili: despite COVID-19 crisis, Georgia’s relations with EU, NATO are strengthening
President Zurabishvili noted that despite the crisis, Georgia’s relations with the European Union and NATO are strengthening.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili have discussed NATO-Georgia relations during the global crisis caused by COVID-19.
President Zurabishvili noted that despite the crisis, Georgia’s relations with the European Union and NATO are strengthening.
President Zurabishvili mentioned in her post on Twitter that the stability of the Black Sea remains a priority for Georgia-NATO cooperation:
Very productive conversation with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg. The Black Sea will play a crucial role after the pandemic and its stability remains a priority for our cooperation. Our road to NATO will continue, regardless of the current crisis. pic.twitter.com/IkGowRQF2i
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) May 5, 2020
Stoltenberg mentioned that the situation caused by the virus should not turn into a security crisis. He also noted that for the security of the Black Sea, both sides should share information and, after the pandemic is over, they should implement more plans.
The NATO Secretary General also stressed that NATO is well aware of Georgia’s requirements and that more coordination is ongoing for additional assistance in the context of the pandemic.
Stoltenberg said that NATO and Georgia are unique and long-standing partners and stressed NATO’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders
Stoltenberg once again emphasised the importance of NATO-Georgia cooperation in Afghanistan and said that the participation of Georgian soldiers in the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission is very strong and impressive.
President Zurabishvili expressed her hope that among 18 participating states, Georgia will also participate in the US-led exercise Defender Europe in the next year.
The exercise was scheduled for April-May 2020, but was postponed until the next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main aim of the Defender Europe exercise is to build readiness within the alliance and deter potential adversaries.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has praised the efforts of the Georgian government against the coronavirus, saying that the country is coping with the virus successfully. Stoltenberg phoned Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani to relay this message and say that the NATO foreign ministerial on April 3-4 will be held in a restricted manner, Georgian Foreign Ministry said. “NATO stands by the Georgian government and its people in the fight against the coronavirus,” the foreign ministry cited Stoltenberg as saying.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili encourages citizens to be more careful amid the recent coronavirus outbreak in the world, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
The EU Delegation to Georgia and US Embassy have praised the efforts of Georgian health workers and others on World Health Day, which is marked today, expressing gratitude for their efforts in the fight against the coronavirus.
Karol Karski, a Polish member of the European Parliament has written an article for the British publication Reaction.life, in which he writes that in the European neighborhood, democracy and freedom remain a “shining city on the hill", for Georgians and that the country is determined to pursue a pro-Western, pro-NATO path.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has welcomed EU leaders’ agreement on a post-coronavirus recovery package, involving €750bn (£677bn; $859bn) in grants and loans to counter the impact of the pandemic in the 27-member bloc.