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.