Defence Minister: NATO leaders view Georgia as “closest partner” among non-member states
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani said leaders of NATO viewed Georgia as the “closest partner” among non-member countries. Photo: Ministry of Defence
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Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Friday said leaders of NATO viewed Georgia as the “closest partner” among non-member countries, as a credit for the state’s “achievements” of the past 10 years.
The Minister added the goal of the Government was full integration into NATO, as defined by the constitution of the country.
People who asked if there is any question mark about our NATO integration did not hear the answer and only voiced their own questions. The answer is simple: full integration into NATO is our goal, which is spelled out in the constitution”, he said.
Chikovani highlighted “years of history” of relations between Georgia and the alliance, which he said was “confirmed” not only by the Government but also the bloc itself.
The official was confirmed as the new Defence Minister as part of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s cabinet on Thursday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly approved Prime Minister, will make his first visit as the head of the Government to Brussels.
Georgian Parliament on Thursday approved Irakli Kobakhidze, the former Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the Prime Minister of Georgia, following the resignation of the former PM Irakli Garibashvili.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday said the Government’s “main priority” was the country’s full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, as outlined in the Georgian constitution.
The Georgian Government’s new state programme For Building the European State, published by the Parliament on Friday, says the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration and further success in this regard, remain a key foreign policy objective under the Constitution of Georgia.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly confirmed Prime Minister, on Friday introduced Irakli Chikovani as the country’s new Defence Minister.
Prospects of cooperation between Georgia and the United States were discussed on Monday between Irakli Chikovani, the newly appointed Minister of Defence and Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to the country.
Irakli Chikovani, the newly appointed Minister of Defence of Georgia, was cited by the Ministry on Thursday as saying the Government was working with international partners to develop the country’s defence forces.