NATO Parliamentary Assembly concerned by grave human rights violations, ethnic discrimination in Georgia’s occupied territories
The resolution also says that NATO should strengthen its support for ‘the efforts of Georgia and Ukraine to accelerate their process of Euro-Atlantic integration.’ Photo: NATO in Georgia/Facebook.
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The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is concerned over grave human rights violations and ethnic discrimination against Georgians in the country’s occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), the resolution adopted on October 11 says.
The document also stresses the ‘necessity of the implementation of the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement’ by the Russian Federation and underscores the right of internally displaced people (IDP) and refugees ‘to return to their homes.’
In the context of the increasingly complex global strategic environment, the Russian Federation’s aggressive actions continue to pose the most immediate threat to Euro-Atlantic security,” the resolution reads.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russia’s ‘ongoing violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.’
[The resolution condemns] Russia’s persistent efforts to destabilise these countries, to derail their European and/or Euro-Atlantic integration, and to incite reckless and irresponsible escalations,” the document states.
The resolution also says that NATO should strengthen its support for ‘the efforts of Georgia and Ukraine to accelerate their process of Euro-Atlantic integration.’
[The resolution urges NATO] to signal solidarity with Georgia and Ukraine through increased joint exercises and practical support to their ability to defend themselves and to continue to denounce Russia’s temporary occupation and illegal annexation of parts of Georgia,” NATO Parliamentary Assembly states.
Georgia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) in 1992 soon after the country declared its independence.
Georgia's key foreign and security policy priorities are membership in the EU and NATO.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has expressed Georgia’s determination to become a full-fledged member of NATO which is celebrating its 72nd anniversary today.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Brussels earlier today where he said that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case ‘confirms that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) regions, and that Russia actually exercises control there’.
“Georgia’s relationship with the alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership. We are working closely with Georgia on security in the Black Sea region, in response to Russia’s increasingly destabilising activities, and welcome the steps taken to implement the refreshed Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. We stand ready to enhance our support to Georgia, including in building resilience against hybrid threats, in training and exercises, and in secure communications. We look forward to the next NATO-Georgia exercise in 2022,” said the communique.
US Senator Rob Portman, who has recently visited Georgia, stated that the US government should urge NATO ahead of the June 14 summit to provide a membership action plan (MAP) for Georgia and Ukraine.In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Portman said that getting both countries on the path to NATO membership would help protect them against Russian aggression.
The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) has been updated following the NATO foreign ministerial yesterday, and NATO experts have called for strengthening partnership with ‘valued partners - Georgia and Ukraine’, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today.