Georgian president, NATO representative discuss relations, reforms
Colomina reaffirmed his “strong support” for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, as well as its aspirations of Euro-Atlantic and European integration. Photo: Presidential Administration
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Georgia-NATO relations and the importance of institutional and democratic reforms in the country were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Colomina reaffirmed his “strong support” for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, as well as its aspirations of Euro-Atlantic and European integration, the presidential administration said.
The meeting focused on the “dynamically developing” relations between the country and the alliance, with the officials discussing the “special role” of Georgia in questions of the security challenges created in the Black Sea region by the conflict in Ukraine.
Zourabichvili and Colomina also reviewed the European perspective granted by the European Council to Georgia in June, the ongoing implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status, and the importance of depolarisation and democratic reforms in the country.
The meeting stressed the European integration of the country was supported by the majority of its citizens, and noted the significance of both the opposition and the ruling team “doing everything” for depolarisation and implementation of institutional reforms.
Strong and capable armed forces are key to uphold Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and NATO will continue to support the country, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
It is “especially important” for Georgia to continuously develop its defence capabilities, strengthen resilience and improve its compatibility with NATO standards, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili said on Thursday at an event held for the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise.
Georgia’s European Union membership enjoys a 74 percent support in the country, with 60 percent backing the country joining NATO, shows a new survey by the International Republican Institute, published on Wednesday.
NATO values Georgia very much as its partner, Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said on Wednesday following his meetings with the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and members of the Parliament’s Defence and Security Committee.
Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday condemned the “referenda” organised by de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine on the areas joining Russia.
The progress achieved by Georgia on its Euro-Atlantic integration path and the main directions of the country’s relations with NATO were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and defence minister Juansher Burchuladze, as well as foregin minister Ilia Darchiashvili, on Tuesday, held meetings with Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Issues related to the challenges of increased border crossings into Georgia were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri.
Irakli Beraia, the head of the defence and security committee of the Georgian parliament on Sunday said Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, in his messages, had expressed support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration in a meeting held within the framework of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Madrid.