Georgia’s NATO Ambassador highlights “ultimate goal” of full membership
In his comments ahead of the NATO Summit set to kick off on Tuesday in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius, Dolidze highlighted the importance of the event based on the current political and military situation in the Black Sea region. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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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”.
In his comments ahead of the NATO Summit set to kick off on Tuesday in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius, Dolidze highlighted the importance of the event based on the current political and military situation in the Black Sea region.
As a result of our efforts, the final political statement, be it a declaration or a communiqué, will accurately and optimistically outline our future plans, our aspirations for the alliance. The fact that NATO will return to the decision made at the [2008] Bucharest Summit [that] Georgia will become a member of NATO will be reflected properly”, Dolidze said.
“The most important [factor] is our number one problem, which concerns territorial integrity and sovereignty. I am sure that in relation to Russia, it will be clearly reflected that Russia should leave the territory of Georgia. I mean the military forces, they should stop militarisation and at the same time withdraw the decision on recognition [of the occupied territories]”, the Georgian diplomat continued.
He also stressed Georgia needed a “political decision” from NATO as “the ball is in NATO's court and we are waiting for this decision to be made as soon as possible”.
The diplomat added his Government "always reminded" counterparts in the bloc that "our ultimate goal is a full NATO membership", adding "I hope this day will come”.
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.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the country’s accession to NATO was a “political objective” that was “bringing Georgians together”.
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.
Cooperation between Georgia and Lithuania, the former's European integration and security matters in the Black Sea region were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis on the sidelines of the NATO Vilnius Summit.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the country’s authorities would apply “as much effort as possible” to continue its progress towards NATO.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said the country was in “strategic readiness” to join NATO and the Government was working “together with our partners” to gain a “political decision that Georgia deserves”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday said the country “faithfully continues its Euro-Atlantic integration path” in her tweet while commenting on the ongoing NATO Summit.
NATO Vilnius Summit Communiqué, issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, on Tuesday reiterated their support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and “highly appreciated” Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO operations.
The Georgian foreign office on Tuesday welcomed the “support” for Georgia as expressed in the final document of the NATO Vilnius Summit, “both in political and practical dimensions”.
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.
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.