FM Zalkaliani: invitation to Riga Summit is recognition of Georgia’s progress as aspirant country by NATO
Zalkaliani, along with his Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts, Dmytro Kuleba and Nicu Popescu, has discussed the future plans of the Associated Trio and the ways of strengthening ties with the EU. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the invitation of Georgia to Riga Summit at the meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the recognition of Georgia’s progress as an aspirant country by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The meeting of NAC at the level of foreign affairs ministers will take place on November 30 and December 1 in Riga, Latvia where Georgia is invited along with Ukraine.
Participating in t/#EaP Ministerial, held prior to t/upcoming Summit & aimed at t/discussion of t/major aspects of it. Will share ????????'s expectations & visions on ???????? integration ambitions, EU’s stronger voice in EaP region,stronger physical & economic ties. pic.twitter.com/FZao62U2S5
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) November 15, 2021
Zalkaliani stated that it is ‘another recognition of tangible progress of Georgia and Ukraine on the path of NATO integration.’
Prior to the Riga Summit, the meeting of the Associated Trio was held today during the Eastern Partnership Ministerial in Brussels.
Zalkaliani, along with his Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts, Dmytro Kuleba and Nicu Popescu, has discussed the future plans of the Associated Trio and the ways of strengthening ties with the EU.
Today I held an exchange of views with @DZalkaliani to take forward the implementation of Economic&Investment Plan for #EasternPartnership and EU Georgia bilateral relations. Also discussed situation in the region. pic.twitter.com/q5rjCnv5La
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) November 15, 2021
The full integration into the EU united market was also on the agenda of the meeting.
The conversation was focused on the further development of the dialogue between the EU and the Associated Trio, in priority fields such as transport, energy, digital transformation, green economy, strategic communications and etc.,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports.
Zalkaliani stated that Georgia expects the EU positions on security in the region to be clearly stated in the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit.
Delighted to take part in t/#A3 ???????????????????????? mtg, held within t/#EaP Ministerial. Had a chance to cover a series of important themes, focusing on t/goals of t/#A3, inc in t/Summit context. It is important that #A3 priorities are taken to account by t/Summit @nicupopescu @DmytroKuleba pic.twitter.com/eM41rJkxhb
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) November 15, 2021
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are the three associated partners of the EU which launched the format of the Associated Trio earlier this year.
The main purpose of the Associated Trio is to strengthen the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative and ensure joint efforts for European integration.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, along with his Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts, Denys Shmyhal and Natalia Gavrilita, has discussed ways how strengthen ties with the European Union (EU), and the steps which will facilitate the European integration of the countries.
Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan foreign ministers have sent a joint letter to EU officials in which they requested deeper cooperation between their countries and the EU.
Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan presidents Salome’s Zurabishvili, Volodymyr Zelensky and Maia Sandu have signed a joint declaration on European integration at the 17th International Conference - Georgia’s European Way, which took place in Batumi, today. The common message of the Assosiated Trio is to strengthen the Eastern Partnership and joint efforts for European integration.
“The Associated Trio will work together on common interests for European integration, including the implementation of Association Agreements with the EU and the further development of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative. Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova will work together to strengthen political and economic dialogue and sectoral integration with the EU,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry has reported.
MEP Marina Kaljurand says that she does not see political consensus regarding the EU’s readiness to talk about Georgia’s European perspective or ‘open door’ policy.
The United States continues to support NATO’s decision of the 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration that Georgia and Ukraine will become NATO members. A day before the NATO foreign ministerial in Riga the Department of State also underscored that ‘these countries’ Annual National Programs (ANP) detail their path to membership’.
Georgian Foreign Affairs Minister David Zalkaliani will take part in a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Riga on November 30 and December 1.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has participated in a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Riga today. During the Ministerial Meeting, the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg and the Foreign Ministers of the member states reaffirmed their support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Georgia is expecting that the NATO 2022 summit in Madrid will make concrete messages on the alliance’s open door policy, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated after the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Riga today. “The Riga Foreign Ministerial made me think that the NATO 2022 summit will be oriented on concrete results for the open-door policy,” Zalkaliani said.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the US’s ‘firm support’ to Georgia at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Riga on December 1.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has announced that tomorrow a Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili will leave for Brussels to participate in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit on December 15, calling it an ‘extremely important event’ to bring Georgia closer to the European Union (EU).
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani during a phone conversation yesterday, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that NATO’s stance on Georgia and Ukraine is unwavering and that they [partner countries] will tell Russia at NATO-Russia talks today that the alliance’s position towards both countries will not be revised.