Georgian Parliamentary delegation participates in NATO PA Spring Session in Luxembourg
“Participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is of particular importance in the light of current geopolitical challenges and ahead of the NATO’s Vilnius Summit”, MP Giorgi Chakvetadze said, adding the Georgian delegation was emphasising the importance of Georgia's integration into the Alliance at all meetings. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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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.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, heading the Georgian delegation to the Assembly, said the agenda of the NATO PA included Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the security of the Black Sea region, the Parliament press office said.
The future of NATO’s “open door policy” is also part of the discussion agenda, Beraia noted, emphasising the Georgian delegation’s “goal is to use the Assembly’s platform to brief member states on the security challenges facing Georgia”, including ongoing Russian occupation. Georgia's progress on the Euro-Atlantic integration path and the importance of NATO support in strengthening the country’s defence and security capabilities will also be part of the discussions, he added.
MP Givi Mikanadze, one of the members of the delegation, said NATO member states reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Georgia’s integration at the bilateral meetings. “We hear more and more often that it was a big mistake that Georgia's accession to NATO was not accelerated and Georgia should be next on the list of accessions after Finland and Sweden”, he noted.
“Participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is of particular importance in the light of current geopolitical challenges and ahead of the NATO’s Vilnius Summit”, MP Giorgi Chakvetadze said, adding the Georgian delegation was emphasising the importance of Georgia's integration into the Alliance at all meetings.
Georgian officials have already held meetings with delegations of Luxembourg, Germany and Italy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the country’s accession to NATO was a “political objective” that was “bringing Georgians together”.