Georgian civil society representatives highlight need for “new security guarantees” for country in open letter to NATO Secretary General, leaders
It also notes Georgia having “all practical tools” of membership in the alliance and being in a position to contribute to strengthening the security of the Black Sea region. Photo: Geocase.ge
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Representatives of Georgian civil society organisations and academia have highlighted the need for “new security guarantees” for the country in an open letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of alliance member states on Monday.
Coming ahead of the NATO Summit opening in Madrid on Tuesday, the letter emphasises the necessity for new guarantees, a decision on strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities and fulfilment of the “political promise” made at the 2008 NATO Summit, where the alliance decided Georgia would become a member of the bloc.
"Representatives of Georgian non-governmental organisations, analytical and research centres, experts, former diplomats, researchers and other members of the public reaffirm in our letter that NATO membership is our country's national interest, the main foreign policy task and a security guarantee", the letter notes.
It also notes Georgia having “all practical tools” of membership in the alliance and being in a position to contribute to strengthening the security of the Black Sea region.
Georgia’s defence minister Juansher Burchuladze and his Ukrainian colleague Oleksii Reznikov are set to meet NATO counterparts on Thursday, during sessions involving the alliance’s ministers of defence in Brussels, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Tuesday.
The Georgian Government’s delegation to this week’s NATO Summit expects “assessment and recognition” of “all the progress” made by the country over the years, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Russia should withdraw its forces from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, noting “they are deployed without these countries’ consent.” He underscored that NATO respects Georgia’s and Ukraine’s decision to apply for membership of the alliance, adding it is the reason why NATO “has engaged in a very strong and close partnership with both these countries.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that NATO cannot compromise on its right to protect and defend all allies in response to Moscow’s recent demand that the alliance should provide security guarantees, the German Press Agency DPA international reports.