As part of NATO Brussels Summit, Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia and Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO have made joint press statements. President Margvelashvili has thanked Secretary General for putting so much efforts into advancing Georgia’s future in Euro-Atlantic community.
“Let me start by thanking you personally, Secretary General, for putting so much efforts into advancing Georgia’s future in Euro-Atlantic community. Let me also thank you for being engaged in organizing such important meetings that we will be having today. The meetings that are unprecedented for my country, as we have an opportunity to discuss security, future and stability of my country together with Ukraine with world leaders.
As a reliable partner of the Alliance, Georgia contributes to Euro-Atlantic stability and is one of the major contributors to the Resolute Support Mission. I can proudly state that we are the major contributor to the entire RSM mission where we are enhancing our NATO-Black Sea security dialogue and we are happy because the Black Sea is so important and Georgia’s engagement in this context, I believe, will be bringing more security and stability to the region.
In several minutes, as I have noticed, we will be discussing Georgia’s participation in RSM, as well as Georgia’s security future with world leaders. We will be discussing with allies how to make my country more stable and secure and how to intensify already existing formats of cooperation with NATO that are leading us to higher defense capabilities of my country, as well as more advanced operability with Georgia’s allies and the ultimate goal of membership. We all agree that NATO and Georgia have exceptional practical cooperation, including SNGP; we are set forward to enhance this cooperation on the counter-mobility, secure communications and cyber defense and plan very intensive drills together with our allies next year.
My position which is shared by many of our friends and allies is that Georgian people, with their capabilities, commitment and burden-sharing approach do deserve fast-forward to the Alliance,” President Margvelashvili said.
For his part, Jens Stoltenberg has thanked President Margvelashvili for active cooperation.
“It has been ten years since the first meeting of NATO-Georgia commission and in this period our partnership has become increasingly close. NATO’s relationship with Georgia is unique; you are the most important operational partner for the Alliance and a trusted friend. Our partnerships make NATO and Georgia safer and more secure. We are grateful for Georgia’s continuous contributions to our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and recognize the sacrifices that Georgian people are making for our shared security. We fully support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Georgia will become a member of NATO; ally leaders reaffirmed this yesterday and we will continue to work with you to prepare for membership.
We are impressed by the progress you are making on reforms and encourage you to continue. The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package is bolstering your country’s defense reform efforts. I am pleased with the close cooperation between the NATO training center in Poland and NATO-Georgia joint training center outside Tbilisi and I expect to see a broad allied participation in next year’s NATO-Georgia exercise. I also thank you for your contribution to the stability of the Black Sea region; a strategic region where we are stepping up our cooperation. NATO supports Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders which includes the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Finally, we congratulate you on your commitment matched NATO guideline of spending 2% of GDP on defense. Mr. President, Georgia, thank you again for being here with all the NATO leaders. The relationship between NATO and your country is stronger than ever,” Jens Stoltenberg said.