Georgian MP: NATO strengthening support for Georgia

NATO will strengthen its support for Georgia, Teona Akubardia, an MP from the  opposition Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, told georgian media outlets following a special meeting of Georgian MPs with Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia,  in the Georgian Parliament on Wednesday.

Akubardia said "concrete talks" were underway to strengthen Georgia's resilience and defence capabilities, with the country waiting for the final approval at NATO’s Madrid Summit this year. 

She also said she expected "important decisions" to be made at the Summit, adding  the concept that NATO would discuss and approve at the gathering would be "radically different" and reflect the "real context" in Europe as a result of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Colomina's visit is a "political message" that NATO's door is "open for Georgia" , Akubardia said.

Colomina also met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili, and a part of the parliamentary opposition. In comments he stressed the strategic importance of the South Caucasus region for North Atlantic security, noting Georgia was a "valuable partner" of NATO.