NATO official: alliance is “fully committed” to “open door” policy, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations
“We've talked with the [Georgian] authorities about the work they have been doing to prevent the circumvention [of the sanctions against Russia], they're doing a good job in many respects”, he added, calling on the Government to further take “appropriate measures” to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. Photo via IPN
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Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Wednesday said the alliance was “fully committed” to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the “open door” policy and the decision taken at the NATO 2008 Bucharest Summit, where the bloc had pledged Georgia and Ukraine would become its members.
During his visit to Tbilisi, just ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July, Colomina stressed that Georgia had to carry out some reforms, expressing concern over the level and pace of the implementation process, the local media reported.
Colomina also said the reactions of some Georgian Parliament and Government members regarding Russia’s decision to resume air travel with the country were “a matter of concern” for the alliance, noting NATO understood that Moscow’s decision was “unilateral”, but the reactions could “create some space” for Russia to potentially circumvent the sanctions imposed for its invasion of Ukraine.
We've talked with the [Georgian] authorities about the work they have been doing to prevent the circumvention [of the sanctions against Russia], they're doing a good job in many respects”, he added, calling on the Government to further take “appropriate measures” to prevent the circumvention of sanctions.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the country’s further progress in its NATO integration on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and subsequent “security challenges” in a meeting with Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
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".
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.
The NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina has expressed NATO’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, calling Georgia a “very valued partner."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday highlighted that Russia's “aggressive actions” against its neighbouring countries had started not with its occupation of Crimea in 2014, but at least as far back as its 2008 invasion of Georgia.
Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Thursday said his meetings with Georgian officials in Tbilisi had involved “good talks”, and pledged the alliance “remains committed” to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, during his visit to Georgia, “once again emphasised” that “no one” was urging the country to impose bilateral sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said “far too weak” perspectives of membership, offered by NATO to Ukraine and Georgia without efficient security guarantees, had exposed the two countries to Russian “vindictiveness” in the Kremlin’s military action against them over the years.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday hailed his country as one of NATO’s “most dependable” and “capable” partners in a Tbilisi meeting with Javier Colomina, the Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia of the bloc’s Secretary General.
Javier Colomina, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Tuesday said granting membership candidate status to Georgia by the European Union was “a historic moment” for the country, as well as for the international community, noting 2024 would be “critically important” for Georgia in this regard.