NATO Sec Gen report: alliance “committed” to supporting Georgia, Ukraine membership
Outlining the main activities of NATO in 2022, it said Georgia was one of the bloc’s “closest partners” among states aspiring for membership. Photo: Reuters
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NATO remains “committed” to supporting eventual membership of Georgia and Ukraine in the alliance, the latest annual report of the bloc’s Secretary General said on Tuesday.
The release said the commitment was maintained in line with decisions taken at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and reaffirmed at the 2022 Madrid Summit on membership prospects of the two countries.
Outlining the main activities of NATO in 2022, it said Georgia was one of the bloc’s “closest partners” among states aspiring for membership.
Over time, a broad range of practical cooperation has supported Georgia’s reform efforts and its goal of Euro-Atlantic integration. The deteriorating security environment resulting from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine significantly affects Georgia”, the document said.
The report also noted the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, a set of initiatives endorsed at the 2014 Summit of the bloc and aimed at strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities, as its “main tool” for practical cooperation with Georgia.
In 2022, [the SNGP] continued to enhance Georgia’s defence capabilities and improve interoperability, in support of the country’s preparations for eventual membership in NATO”, Stoltenberg noted in his report.
The Joint Training and Evaluation Centre in Georgia provided training and evaluation of Georgian units and hosted the third NATO-Georgia Exercise in March, the release also noted.
The report also acknowledged the Defence Institution Building School, another institution launched in the country as part of the cooperation, had achieved accreditation through the implementation of NATO’s Quality Assurance Concept.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday said the alliance would continue to “work closely” with partners like Georgia in what he called a “part of the message” of the bloc as the Russian invasion of Ukraine neared its first anniversary.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said the alliance’s allied states had agreed to “step up partnership” with partners like Georgia.
Vehicles equipped with special hardware for “quick and effective” response capabilities were donated by NATO to the Georgian Defence Forces on Wednesday, the Georgian Ministry of Defence revealed.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the framework of a NATO ministerial in Brussels, NATO said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the annual NATO-Georgia Commission meeting later today would discuss the country’s existing cooperation with the alliance and plans for future “joint activities”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday said the Russian aggression against Georgia and Ukraine had pushed the alliance to add new members and take actions to further strengthen its position on the Eastern flank.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday congratulated Finland on joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, stressing the alliance has become “stronger and more united”, and Europe - “a safer place” with the country.
Javier Colomina, the NATO Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Wednesday said the decision taken at the NATO 2008 Bucharest Summit - where the bloc pledged Georgia and Ukraine would become its members - remained in force for Georgia.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Wednesday said the alliance would continue to support its partners facing pressure from Russia, including Georgia, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina.