US Ambassador to NATO hails Georgia’s excellent relationship with alliance, highlights country as one of “closest partners”
“Both NATO and EU want to see Georgia achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations”, Smith added, stressing the US’s wish to see “peaceful and stable Georgia within its internationally recognised borders”. Photo via US Mission to NATO
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Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, hailed Georgia’s “excellent and very close” relationship with the alliance and highlighted the country as NATO’s one of the “closest partners”, in an interview with Imedi TV on Friday.
Smith said Georgia’s participation in NATO operations and the “considerable contributions”, as well as “great sacrifices”, made by the country would always be “remembered and respected”, stressing both Georgia and the alliance wanted to deepen the existing partnership.
"We want to assist Georgia [...] in strengthening democratic processes and institutions, the rule of law, human rights. Great job has been done, but there is much work ahead of us, and together we can work on enhancing the partnership and helping Georgia on its way to NATO membership”, the Ambassador noted, adding the country met “many criterias” to become the alliance member, but the “good work” on other issues should be continued too.
We would also like to see as much political unity as possible. This is important for the Georgian people and it is also significant as a signal to Russia that they will not be able to divide the Georgian people, they will not be able to interfere in internal political affairs. This also strengthens Georgia's place in the Euro-Atlantic space”, Smith stressed.
She also emphasised that Georgia had to continue working on the fulfilment of the European Union recommendations, which would “certainly” benefit the country’s integration into the alliance, despite NATO and EU being “two different institutions”.
Both NATO and EU want to see Georgia achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations”, Smith added, stressing the US’s wish to see “peaceful and stable Georgia within its internationally recognised borders”.
The US Ambassador to NATO said Georgia, along with Ukrainian people, would receive a “strong signal of support” from the alliance during its summit in Vilnius in July, which would be a message of “unity, continued support and strengthening of relations”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Wednesday said the “open support” of the United States for Georgia’s European integration was “unequivocal” and said he was confident the backing would continue.
Karen Donfried, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Thursday said her Government continued to stand with Georgia and would protect the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday described Georgia as “one of closest partners” of the alliance and pledged “continued political and practical support” for the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday expressed his Government’s “readiness” to further deepen political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO "in all dimensions".
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Tuesday called “anti-state, misinforming and shameful” the claim by Teona Akubardia, an MP from the opposition Lelo party, who earlier during the day said the Georgian Defence Forces’ non-involvement in NATO exercises was a “gift to the Kremlin and damaging to our defence capabilities”.
The Georgian Defence Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the question of participation of the country’s Defence Forces in the multinational exercise Defender 2023 and said the “biassed” information spread by some media outlets and individuals was “another provocation” towards the Ministry.
The United States Embassy in Georgia on Wednesday issued a statement on military cooperation between the two states in 2023 and stressed US-Georgia continued “to do more across a broad range of cooperative military activities”.
James Appathurai, the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, on Wednesday said he did not have an “exact answer” when Georgia would become a NATO member country, but noted it was “clear” that “sooner or later” it would happen, highlighting the country as “one of the closest partners” for the alliance.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the European Union not granting Georgia its membership candidate status would work to embolden a “radical scenario” by “destructive forces” in the country.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation on Friday “applauded” the “diligent” work of Georgia to support international financial sanctions and export controls with the support of the US Embassy in the country.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday rejected the criticism by the domestic opposition about the absence of the Georgian Defence Forces from an ongoing NATO exercise by highlighting the “record number” of six international manoeuvres involving the GDF in 2022 and about 20 set to feature troops from the country this year.
The Georgian Parliamentary delegation is participating in the Spring Session of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Parliamentary Assembly in Luxembourg between Saturday and Monday, attending the Assembly’s committees and holding bilateral meetings with the delegations of the member states of the Alliance.
Alec Shelbrooke, the head of the British Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, on Sunday said Georgia's place was in the “Euro-Atlantic space” and noted the country must continue implementing its reforms to prepare for an eventual membership in the alliance.
Georgia and its people, as a “proud and freedom-loving nation”, share the same values and principles of freedom and democracy that “form the foundation of the enduring friendship” with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday at the official reception held at the US Embassy in Tbilisi on the occasion of the Declaration of Independence of the USA.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, on Friday said Georgia was “already an incredibly close partner” of the Alliance, noting the 2008 Bucharest Summit declared that “not only” Ukraine, but also Georgia would become a member of NATO.