British MP: Georgia belongs in “Euro-Atlantic space”
In his remarks, Shelbrooke noted there would be discussions at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July on deepening the partnership, and specific measures would be taken to increase the defence capabilities of the partner state. Photo: Imedi TV
Tweet 
Share
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.
In his remarks, Shelbrooke noted there would be discussions at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July on deepening the partnership, and specific measures would be taken to increase the defence capabilities of the partner state.
“Georgia must also continue its reforms to prepare for membership. NATO is waiting for this. In NATO, as well as in the European Union, political decisions are to be taken. Preparing for a membership is a long process”, the British MP told Imedi TV.
Shelbrooke stressed there were “many arguments” for Georgia being “important” for the bloc and the “entire Euro-Atlantic security”.
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.
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.
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.
Maaike van Koldam, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia, on Monday called on all domestic political parties to “work together”, “unite to overcome differences”, end polarisation of the domestic political scene and fulfil the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Bilateral cooperation in defence was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and the British Ambassador Mark Clayton.
The delegation of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday discussed bilateral relations with the officials of the Foreign Affairs and Education Committees of the British House of Commons and Georgia-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group.
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”.
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.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said Georgia was “strategically ready” for NATO membership and described the country as the alliance’s “reliable partner”, ahead of the bloc’s Summit on Tuesday.
Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations were discussed on Monday in a meeting between Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Bärbel Bas, the President of the German Bundestag, who is on an official visit to the country.