NATO Sec Gen: strengthening partnership with Georgia on Vilnius Summit agenda
The NATO official called on Russia to “withdraw its forces it has in Georgia – without any consent from the Georgian government – and to end its recognition and militarisation, of course, and South Ossetia”. Photo via NATO
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Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Friday said the importance of strengthening the partnership with Georgia would be addressed at the upcoming Summit in Vilnius, with Ukraine being “at the top of the agenda” as “there is a full-fledged war taking place” in the country.
In a pre-summit press conference, Stoltenberg noted the Alliance had to strengthen its partnership with “partners that are vulnerable for Russian interference and under pressure” and stressed the upcoming Summit would reaffirm NATO’s support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
Allies will also, I expect, reaffirm Georgia’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy, free from outside intervention”, he added.
The NATO official called on Russia to “withdraw its forces it has in Georgia – without any consent from the Georgian government – and to end its recognition and militarisation, of course, and South Ossetia”.
He highlighted the important role of Georgia in strengthening the partnership with NATO and the commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Victor Dolidze, the head of the Georgian mission to NATO, on Monday said the country’s “ultimate goal” was full membership in the alliance, and noted “it probably matters less by which mechanism it will be ultimately determined - with or without the membership action plan”.
The Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee, is participating in the 69th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen.
Victor Dolidze, the Head of the Georgian Mission to NATO, on Saturday stressed the importance of gaining the support of “friends and colleagues” in the Alliance “as much as possible” amid Russia’s “increased pressure” on the occupied territories of Georgia.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Monday adopted three declarations of support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia as well as the necessity of a “quick” implementation of the bloc’s tailored support package for the country.