Vilnius Summit Communiqué reiterates support to Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, appreciates country’s contributions to NATO
The decision of the 2008 Bucharest Summit noting that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan as an integral part of the process was also reiterated in the Communiqué, reaffirming “all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions”. Photo via nato.int
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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.
We highly appreciate Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO operations, which demonstrate its commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security. We remain committed to making full use of the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme in deepening political dialogue and practical cooperation with Georgia”, the Communiqué said.
It was noted that the Alliance stood “firm” in its support for Georgia’s “right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference”, while calling on Russia to withdraw its forces stationed in Georgia without the country’s consent.
We further call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia, to end the militarisation of these regions and continued attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the construction of border-like obstacles, and to cease the human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary detentions, and harassments of Georgian citizens”, it was added.
The decision of the 2008 Bucharest Summit noting that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan as an integral part of the process was also reiterated in the Communiqué, reaffirming “all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions”.
We welcome the progress made in implementing the enhanced Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, including Crisis Management, Cyber Security, Military Engineering, and Secure Communications, as well as new initiatives in the areas of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence and Training Facilities”, it was noted in the official statement.
It was also stressed that Georgia “must make progress on reforms, including key democratic reforms” and make “best use” of the NATO-Georgia Annual National Programme to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said at the ongoing NATO Summit in Vilnius, Georgia was supposed to “get closer” to its “main foreign policy goal” - full integration into the Alliance.
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.
Grigol Giorgadze, the Georgian Deputy Defence Minister, on Tuesday told the Parliament the country’s new Defence Code had been developed with an “active engagement” of foreign partners, and said the document was expected to increase Georgia’s interoperability with 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 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”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the ongoing NATO Summit in Vilnius had “once again” emphasised that Georgia was enjoying a “strong support” from its partners in the bloc.
Relations between Georgia and Greece, the former's European integration, and security matters in the Black Sea region were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis.
Prospects of strengthening cooperation between Georgia and Finland and the former's European integration were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said the ongoing NATO Summit in Vilnius had “confirmed” the country was “on the right track” and would “definitely receive” an invitation for membership “in the future”.
Partnership ties between Georgia and the United Kingdom were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his British counterpart James Cleverly on the sidelines of the ongoing NATO Vilnius Summit.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday said a strong North Atlantic Alliance was “the only path” for Georgia and Ukraine “to enduring peace and freedom”, stressing “the choice is ours and no Russian veto is to be allowed”.
Jamie Shea, former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, expressed hope the Alliance would soon send a “positive signal” to Georgia, stressing “we must remember that we promised NATO membership to two countries and we should never forget Georgia".
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said Georgia, the country’s armed forces and institutions were “fully compatible” with NATO standards, noting “the only thing that remains is the political decision of Alliance member countries”.