NATO Sec-Gen: Georgia, Ukraine are long-standing and close NATO partners
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the end of a two day meeting of Allied Foreign Ministers in Riga that NATO's support for Ukraine's and Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty remains 'unwavering'. Photo: NATO
Tweet 
Share
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said following the meeting of NATO foreign ministers that Georgia and Ukraine are both ‘long-standing and close NATO partners’.
Jens Stoltenberg has tweeted:
#NATO Foreign Ministers met with partners #Georgia & #Ukraine. Ministers made clear that any further Russian aggression against Ukraine will have serious political & economic consequences. We need to remain vigilant & avoid escalation. #ForMin pic.twitter.com/9f7jYQZADT
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) December 1, 2021
Stoltenberg further noted during his press conference that Georgia and Ukraine - both aspiring for NATO membership - contribute to its missions and operations.
Ministers made clear that we stand by our decisions. Our support for their sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering and we remain committed to enhance our support to both countries”, Stoltenberg said.
He further noted that NATO is already strengthening their capabilities to defend themselves by training and exercising together, as well as providing maritime support and sharing information.
We also addressed the importance of moving ahead with reforms to strengthen the rule of law and democracy, fight corruption and continue to transform their security and defense sectors”, he said.
Stoltenberg believes these reforms are key to making both Georgia and Ukraine stronger and more resilient.
Permanent Representative of Belgium to NATO has tweeted:
Second day of the #NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Riga ended. Ministers met ???????? ???????? colleagues, discussed lessons learned on 20 years presence in #Afghanistan ????????, and exchanged views on developments in the Western Balkans. pic.twitter.com/9amOosS8Zl
— Pascal Heyman (@PascalHeyman) December 1, 2021
Mentioning Russia’s ‘continued aggressive and destabilising actions against its neighbours’ Stoltenberg said the ministers ‘made clear any future Russian aggression would come at a high price, and have serious political and economic consequences for Russia.
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 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.
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’.
Russia has called on NATO member states to rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia and Ukraine's bid to become members of the alliance. The statement, issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanded the security guarantees from the United States and its allies.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a meeting earlier today wherein a ‘clear vision of Georgia’s eventual integration to NATO’ was discussed. Garibashvili stated that time has come to advance the country’s integration and ‘make concrete political decisions.’