Georgian parliamentary delegation discusses country’s security challenges in bilateral meetings at NATO parliamentary assembly
Anne Genetet, the head of the French delegation, said Georgia has been an “important” country of the Black Sea region and France’s strategic partner, while noting that European security has been tied to the region’s security. Photo: Irakli Beraia/Twitter
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The Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by the head of the defence and security committee Irakli Beraia, discussed regional and Georgian security challenges, as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine in bilateral meetings held within the framework of the ongoing NATO parliamentary assembly in Madrid.
Russian occupation of Georgian territories, conventional and hybrid threats to the country, as well as expanding and strengthening the relations between the countries have been also reviewed with French, Finnish and Turkish, as well as Romanian and Estonian parliamentary delegations, the press service of parliament said.
Photo: Parliament of Georgia
The Georgian side stressed the need for Georgia to join NATO and focused on the importance of speeding up this decision, while also highlighting the need to further strengthen the country's defence, security, and ability to fight hybrid threats.
According to the chairman of the parliament’s defence and security committee and the head of the delegation, Irakli Beraia, taking into consideration the sharply deteriorated security environment, the partners have been very well aware of the importance of Georgia joining NATO, giving grounds for optimism regarding the acceleration of the decision to join the alliance.
NATO allies can make bold decisions if there is political will to do so. This is a very good signal for us that it is possible to join the alliance in an accelerated manner. [...] The partners firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. [...] they will continue to support Georgia in all formats and on all international platforms, as well as in various organisations", Beraia said.
Anne Genetet, the head of the French delegation, said Georgia has been an “important” country of the Black Sea region and France’s strategic partner, while noting that European security has been tied to the region’s security.
Excellent meeting, full of positive emotions, w/ #French delegation 2 #NATOPA. Talked on regional environment, ????????’s security challenges, our progress on #NATOEU membership path, importance 2 further strengthen ????????-???????? bilateral defense & security partnership. ????????????????????. pic.twitter.com/QTXIeEwnrA
— Irakli Beraia (@IrakliBeraiaMP) November 20, 2022
The heads of Estonian, Romanian and Turkish delegations, Mati Raidma, Attila Laszlo and Osman Askin Bak also reaffirmed their continuing support for Georgia’s NATO membership. The Georgian delegation and Beraia also held meetings with Spanish and Swedish delegations on Saturday and discussed the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration with Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
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.
Hans Wallmark, a member of the Swedish parliament Riksdag on Saturday said he had expectations of “positive signals and changes” in Georgia after the European Commission would evaluate the implemented EU conditions, as the country has been a member of the European family.
Irakli Beraia, the head of the defence and security committee of the Georgian parliament on Saturday said deepening cooperation with Spain, “especially” at the parliamentary level in both bilateral and multilateral formats, including within the framework of the NATO parliamentary assembly, had been “very important” for Georgia.
Hybrid threats and the Russian occupation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were in focus of a meeting between the NATO Parliamentary Delegation and representatives of the Georgian State Security Service on Wednesday.
A Georgian parliamentary delegation led by speaker Shalva Papuashvili will visit Spain and Portugal between Monday to Saturday for high-level meetings with MPs of the countries.
NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said the alliance should “step up” cooperation with its partners in Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and members of his delegation on Wednesday discussed prospects for closer cooperation with the Spanish legislative body, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and security challenges sparked by ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict with senior Spanish lawmakers in Madrid.
Relations between Georgia and France and prospects for future cooperation were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Sheraz Gasri, the French Ambassador to Georgia.