NATO Deputy Sec-Gen, Georgian FM discuss Russia, NATO allies’ negotiations on EU security
Nato Deputy Secretary-General Geoana stated that Georgia is ‘a valued NATO partner, adding that ‘we support every nation's right to freely choose their own security arrangements.’ Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and NATO allies with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Mircea Geoana during a phone call yesterday ahead of the NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled on January 12, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia (FMA) reports.
Zalkaliani said that his talk with Geoana is ‘a logical continuation’ of a conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, in which they discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe, on January 5.
Cooperation with Georgia, strategic partnership and tackling our issues are top priorities of our partners,” Zalkaliani said.
Today I held a phone call with @NATO‘s Deputy SecGen @Mircea_Geoana regarding the ongoing discussions on the European security. It is important that #NATO stays committed to the Open Door Policy and firmly supports sovereign choices of nations. https://t.co/OyTs69RcG9
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) January 10, 2022
Zalkaliani also said that his conversation with Geoana ‘is a confirmation of the constant attention given to Georgia by the partners,’ noting that ‘NATO is not going to reconsider its position regarding Georgia.’
I received reassurances from the NATO Deputy Secretary-General that NATO is consistent in its decisions and that European security is based on the security of partners,” Zalkaliani states.
Nato Deputy Secretary-General Geoana stated that Georgia is ‘a valued NATO partner, adding that ‘we support every nation's right to freely choose their own security arrangements.’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that, prior to the NATO-Russia council, they are ‘consulting closely’ with NATO partners, including Georgia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, and the EU.
The Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue took place yesterday in Geneva, after which US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slamNATO's open door policy shut,’ while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that ‘Russia needs concrete guarantees that Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members.’
Russia released a statement on December 10 demanding NATO member states rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia's and Ukraine's goal of becoming members of the alliance.
Georgia condemned the statement, calling it ‘unacceptable.’
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated yesterday following the Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue (SSD) that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slam closed NATO's open door policy,’ adding that the policy has ‘always been central to the NATO Alliance.'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday in an interview with CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective of ‘re-exert[ing] a sphere of influence over countries that previously were part of the Soviet Union is unacceptable.'
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has emphasised the US’ ‘commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the freedom of sovereign nations to choose their own alliances’ during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on January 9 in Geneva, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani during a phone conversation yesterday, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
Members of the US Senate NATO Observer Group have urged US President Joe Biden to convey support for the 'security and freedom' for the Eastern European allies to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the NATO-Russia Council meeting scheduled this week.
Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell states that Russia is violating three fundamental principles: the right of each state to freely choose its alliances, non-use of force and respect for the territorial integrity of all states in Ukraine, ‘as it has already done in Georgia.'
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement calling on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, stating that Georgia can rely on its partners in these difficult geopolitical times ‘to continue supporting our sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
US Ambassador to OSCE Michael Carpenter stated today at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna that ‘Russia’s unwanted military presence on the territory of Georgia and Moldova continues to contradict fundamental principles.’
Georgia has carried out ‘impressive reforms’ while enhancing its defence capabilities through the substantial NATO-Georgia package, Head of NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer stated yesterday following two-day meetings of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS).
NATO will not reconsider its decisions regarding Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said following his meeting with the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Monday.
The NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina has expressed NATO’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, calling Georgia a “very valued partner."
Russia’s “illegal and provocative actions” along the administrative line separating Georgia’s occupied regions from the government-controlled territory, as well as Kremlin’s policy on sovereignty of Georgia and Ukraine were among topics discussed by Georgian foreign minister David Zalkaliani and Toivo Klaar, European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, on Tuesday.
Georgia is a democratic state based on the rule of law and bound by a “valuable unity” with its partners and NATO, which has been “repeatedly demonstrated” through democratic reforms and contribution to global security, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday in an event for the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise.
The Georgian deputy defence minister Grigol Giorgadze on Friday summarised the country’s relations and projects with NATO in a meeting with clerics of the Georgian Orthodox church as part of an awareness campaign by local organisations for ensuring the religious institution’s engagement in the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.