NATO Sec-Gen: I count on all parties to resolve differences through dialogue in Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili is on his first official foreign visit as the new Prime Minister of Georgia. Photo: NATO
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with Georgian Prime MInister Irakli Garibashvili in Brussels today that ‘the recent political developments in Georgia are worrying’.
Expressing NATO’s support for the mediation efforts of the European Union Jens Stoltenberg encouraged PM Garibashvili ‘to work with the opposition to find common ground and common solutions’.
NATO expects Georgia to uphold the democratic standards that it has worked so hard to develop in recent years. This includes resolving political differences through dialogue and avoiding divisive rhetoric and actions", NATO Sec-Gen said.
Stoltenberg said that NATO ‘is an Alliance built on some core values: the rule of law, democracy, individual liberty and of course these values are important for all allies’.
That’s also the reason why we welcome the efforts and the progress Georgia has made, when it comes to strengthening democratic institutions, implement reforms and modernise different institutions including in the defence and security sector but also in the judiciary”, Stoltenberg stated.
This, he said, is also the reason ‘why allies are concerned when they have seen some of the recent developments in Georgia, including the detention of the head of the major opposition party’.
Therefore, NATO would like to see ‘a resolution to this dispute’ and then to find a way where Georgia can continue to implement the reforms and have a well-functioning parliament at the heart of its democracy.
Good to meet PM @GharibashviliGe. #Georgia is one of #NATO's most important partners, and vital to the security of the #BlackSea region. I count on Georgia to uphold democratic standards, and for all parties to resolve differences through dialogue, working to find common ground. pic.twitter.com/se8WVbbsJY
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 17, 2021
In his remarks Sec-Gen Stoltenberg also underscored that Georgia is ‘really a highly valued partner’ and that the alliance ‘very much appreciates’ the political and practical cooperation with Georgia.
Calling Georgia ‘one of NATO’s most important partners’ Stoltenberg noted as well that ‘we have a close political partnership and a strong practical cooperation’.
NATO Sec-Gen told PM Garibashvili as well that the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, ‘is the cornerstone of the Alliance’s support to Georgia’s reform efforts’, which ‘helps Georgia operate effectively with Allied forces and prepare for NATO membership’.
We are actually delivering together when it comes to practical cooperation. Black Sea security is a priority for NATO and Georgia and we are concerned by Russia’s continued military build-up in the region”, Stoltenberg said.
He further reiterated that NATO supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, continues to call on Russia to end its recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions and to withdraw all its forces.
Irakli Garibashvili is on his first official foreign visit as the new Prime Minister of Georgia. Photo: NATO
On his part, PM Garibashvili said that NATO membership is Georgia’s ‘top foreign and security priority’ that is enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Our NATO aspiration is based on the overwhelming majority of Georgian people who support this objective. It is a matter of broad consensus among the major political parties” Garibashvili said.
Noting that Georgia has ‘all the practical tools to prepare for membership’, Irakli Garibashvili said Georgia is ‘one of the closest and most reliable and interoperable partners of the Alliance’, which has proven ‘its ability to share the burden of collective defence’ through its participation in NATO-led operations.
Taking into consideration Georgia’s success, its dedication and contribution to the shared Euro-Atlantic security Garibashvili said Georgians hope that ‘time has come to move forward on Georgia’s aspirations’.
We fervently hope for the full implementation of the Bucharest Summit decision that will lead to concrete and tangible steps aimed at inviting Georgia fully into to the Euro-Atlantic family”, he concluded.
NATO has shared the joint press point by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili:
PM Garibashvili left for Brussels to attend the sixth meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council on Monday. Yesterday he held meetings with EU officials, including European Council President Charles Michel, whose special envoy Christian Danielsson continues to mediate the talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition in Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with European Parliament President David Sassoli and MEPs in Brussels earlier today.
EU officials and the document released after the recent, 6th EU-Georgia Association Council meeting in Brussels say that the October 31, 2020 Georgian parliamentary elections, as well as the second round of the elections in November 2020, were ‘competitive.’
Vice-President of European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles stated at the press conference following the EU-Georgia Association Council earlier today that this meeting is being held in a ‘pivotal moment’ for Georgia amid the current political crisis.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who met with the European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels yesterday, has told journalists that the Georgian ruling party and the opposition must come to an agreement amid the current political tension, but a solution ‘must not be found at the expense of state interests.’
Christian Danielsson, who is leading the EU-backed mediation effort in Georgia, has held the first joint meetings with the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition amid the current political tension. Although the parties did not again speak about the topics of their discussion in detail, ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze said after meeting that ‘the process has gone in the right direction.
Georgian opposition politicians, who plan to travel to the regions to meet with the public, have announced they will gather in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi on May 15.
The EU mediator in the talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on the issues of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of opposition figures Christian Danielsson will travel back to Georgia by the end of the week to help the parties to come to an agreement on ‘two most challenging issues.’