Appathurai: Sooner or later, Georgia will become NATO member, country is one of closest partners for alliance
"It is a fact that Georgia is one of the closest partners for NATO and in my opinion, this is the case when the alliance does not have such strong representation in any other countries outside NATO as it has in Georgia. We have a very active, daily relationship with the representative office of Georgia. [...] We will further deepen this”, he emphasised. Photo via 1TV.ge
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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.
Appathurai said the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia’s and Ukraine's bids to join the alliance would remain unchanged, noting the 2023 Vilnius Summit would focus on “several new directions”.
As for Georgia, I can absolutely assure you that Georgia is at a very high level on NATO's agenda each day, [...] We have already decided to intensify the relationship with Georgia, [...] the discussion is underway to soon realise the enhanced cooperation programme”, the NATO representative noted.
"It is a fact that Georgia is one of the closest partners for NATO and in my opinion, this is the case when the alliance does not have such strong representation in any other countries outside NATO as it has in Georgia. We have a very active, daily relationship with the representative office of Georgia. [...] We will further deepen this”, he emphasised.
The NATO representative noted some challenges had been identified in Georgia, including political polarisation, “holding back” some essential reforms, and emphasised that the country had to progress in implementing reforms in this regard.
Referring to Georgia’s support to Ukraine, Appathurai said NATO “understands the unique and difficult situation existing in the country, especially when the Russian army is not far from the capital [Georgia’s capital Tbilisi]”, stressing the importance to provide “maximum support” to Ukraine, as its victory against Russia would be important for the security of Georgia.
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.
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.
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”.
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".
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.
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.
The “dynamic” development of relations between Georgia and NATO are highlighted in the annual report on the work of the country’s Government, set to be submitted to the Parliament today before it is presented to MPs by the Prime Minister later this month.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the country’s accession to NATO was a “political objective” that was “bringing Georgians together”.
A Georgian delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilia Darchiashvili will participate in the upcoming NATO Summit set to kick off on Tuesday in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius.