Georgia will “categorically refuse” if NATO membership offered in exchange for territory concession - ruling party head
In his comments to the media, the ruling party official stressed that such an approach to NATO membership in return for territory concession was unacceptable and noted that he “understood” the position of the Ukrainian Government, which negatively assessed the statement of NATO’s representative, adding Georgia was in the same situation as 20 percent of the country’s territories were occupied. Photo via Georgian Dream press office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said if NATO membership was offered to Georgia in exchange for territory concession, the country’s answer would be “categorical refusal”.
Kobakhidze was responding to the statement of Stian Jensen, the Director of the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General, who in yesterday’s interview said “the solution for Ukraine might be to give up territory and get NATO membership in return”.
In his comments to the media, the ruling party official stressed that such an approach to NATO membership in return for territory concession was unacceptable and noted that he “understood” the position of the Ukrainian Government, which negatively assessed the statement of NATO’s representative, adding Georgia was in the same situation as 20 percent of the country’s territories were occupied.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the “pragmatic” policy of the Government served to restore the territorial integrity of the country, in comments over the 31st anniversary of the 1992-1993 war in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the Government was pursuing development to “achieve the cherished goal of building a united and strong Georgia” together with compatriots in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, in comments marking the 31st anniversary of the start of the 1990s armed conflict in the former.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday highlighted the Government’s “reasonable and peaceful policy” with regards to the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of the country and said the vision was “focused on restoring trust” between communities divided by conflicts in the territories, in his message for the 31st anniversary of the 1992-1993 war in the former.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday alleged the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of Georgia’s territory by Russia was an “outcome of the betrayal committed” by the former United National Movement Government, in remarks over the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.