NATO Sec-Gen summarizes partnership with Georgia in annual report
The Secretary-General noted NATO had established “enhanced opportunities” status for six partners, including Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg summarized the aspects of partnership between Georgia and the Alliance in his annual report for 2021 on Thursday.
Stoltenberg wrote NATO’s door for membership remained open “to all European democracies that share the values of the Alliance,” while the Allies committed to support the eventual membership of Georgia and Ukraine.
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— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 31, 2022
????️ Launch of my Annual Report for 2021 #SGreport #NATO
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The Secretary-General noted NATO had established “enhanced opportunities” status for six partners, including Georgia, to provide them with opportunities to engage with the Alliance.
Stoltenberg pointed out the NATO-Georgia cooperation had strengthened the country’s defence capabilities and helped it advance in “preparations towards eventual membership in the Alliance.”
Some 35 resident and visiting experts, provided by Allies and partners, continued to support the implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia package in 2021. Through the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Trust Fund projects, Allies funded education and training, including for Georgia’s military police, as well as exercises and equipment,” he wrote.
The Secretary-General also recalled the Alliance-funded projects in Georgia, namely the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre and the Defence Institution Building School in Georgia.
NATO “greatly values” its long-standing cooperation with Georgia, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana tweeted on Tuesday following his meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili.
David Zalkaliani, the Georgian Foreign Minister, has been invited to the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member and allied states, with the event launching next week in Brussels.
Georgia has repeatedly proven to be a “trusted and experienced” NATO partner capable of making a “valuable contribution” to global peace and security, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Thursday at an event held for the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise.
NATO-Georgia cooperation, the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine and the consequent deterioration of the security situation in the Eastern European region were discussed on Thursday during a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security David Cattler.