Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Irene Fellin, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security.

The conversation at the meeting held at the Government Administration focused on NATO’s open door policy and Georgia’s integration into the North Atlantic Alliance. It was noted that Georgia has always been one of NATO’s most reliable and effective partners with a tremendous contribution to common Euro-Atlantic security.

As the Prime Minister pointed out, in many ways Georgia acts as an Ally, and it is commendable that the Allies have decided to provide Georgia with tailored support measures, which will help further strengthen Georgia’s defense capabilities.

The regional and global security environment and challenges were also discussed. Emphasis was placed on Georgia’s considerable role in cementing security in the Black Sea region.

The discussed topics included the 2nd National Human Rights Strategy approved by the Georgian Government in 2022 and covering the years 2022-2030. It was noted that the strategy dedicates a significant portion to gender equality and envisages constantly upgrading equality and non-discrimination legislation.

The conversation also touched on Georgia’s 2022-2024 National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, and the Action Plan for Measures to Be Taken in 2022-2024 for Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and Protecting Survivors. It was emphasized that both documents include concrete actions and seek to promote gender equality across a variety of areas.

The meeting was attended by Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia Alexander Vinnikov and Georgia’s Ambassador to NATO Victor Dolidze.

Press Service of the Government Administration

The European Union will extend its sanctions, announced in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, to those who militarily support Russia’s war, such as Belarus or Iran. This was announced by the Head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at a press conference today following the signing of the Third EU-NATO Joint Declaration on Cooperation.

“The European Union will keep doing everything in its power to support the brave people of Ukraine. We will keep the pressure on the Kremlin for as long as it takes with the biting sanctions regime,” said von der Leyen. “We will be coming forward with new sanctions on Belarus answering Belarus’ role in this Russian war in Ukraine.”

She also confirmed that the EU will continue its “substantial humanitarian economic and Security Assistance to Ukraine as long as it is necessary”.

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The Parliamentary Delegation, headed by the Chair of the Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Beraia held the bilateral meetings within the NATO PA sessions.

According to the administration of the Parliament of Georgia, Georgian MPs met with the representatives of Sweden, Finland, Turkey and Estonia and dwelt on the regional security and security challenges of Georgia, the Russian war against Ukraine, the Russian occupation and its consequences, as well as the conventional and hybrid threats that Georgia encounters.

Georgian MPs underlined the necessity of Georgia’s NATO integration and the acceleration of this decision emphasizing the necessity to further enhance the countering the security and hybrid threats for the national defense of Georgia.

According to I. Beraia, providing the drastically aggravated security milieu, the partners well realize the importance of Georgia’s membership, which makes Georgia optimistic.

“The NATO allies can make a brave decision in case of their political will and it is a good signal for us that Georgia’s NATO membership can be accelerated, which is the ultimate goal we look forward since the value-based choice of the Georgian citizens is to become a NATO member. We dwelt on the value of Georgia for NATO against the background of the increased threats in the region. We stressed that Georgia has not only the will but the capacity and experience to contribute to NATO security. When our partners aspire to diversify the energy resources and enhance the connection between the East and West, it increases the role of Georgia as a NATO member state. The partners strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country and pledged to further support us in all the formats and at all international platforms and in international organizations”, - I. Beraia stated.

The parties touched upon bilateral relations, Parliamentary cooperation and exchange visits.

The Georgian Delegation is composed of the First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Giorgi Khelashvili and the Deputy Chairs of the Defense Committee, Vladimir Chachibaia and Teona Akubardia.

Georgia’s progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration and the key directions on the NATO-Georgia relations agenda were the main topics discussed at today’s meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina.

Irakli Garibashvili and Javier Colomina spoke about the supportive measures tailored to Georgia and seeking to expand the country’s defense capabilities even further.

Attention was paid to NATO’s new Strategic Concept. As it was noted, the concept reiterates NATO’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial sovereignty and emphasizes the strategic importance of the Black Sea to the Alliance.

According to the Prime Minister, Georgia has always been one of the most reliable and capable partners of the Alliance, making a tremendous contribution to common Euro-Atlantic security. Irakli Garibashvili underlined that, over the years, Georgia has achieved significant progress on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration.

The conversation touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the complex security environment in the region and the world. Irakli Garibashvili and Javier Colomina discussed the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Georgian Government’s commitment to the policy of peaceful conflict resolution. 

The meeting at the Government Administration was attended by the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, Alexander Vinnikov, Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and the Head of the Georgian Mission to NATO, Victor Dolidze.

The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) aims to strengthen Georgia’s ability to defend itself and advance in its preparations for NATO membership. Since its endorsement by NATO Heads of State and Government, relevant representatives have been working together to further Georgia’s defense capabilities, increase its interoperability with NATO, and support Georgia’s integration in the alliance.

This week, members of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) Core Team met with representatives of the National Crisis Management Center (Department) of the Office of National Security Council for discussions related to SNGP’s Crisis Management Initiative, which is led by Denmark.

Sniper rifle shooting tournament was held in the Georgian Defence Forces. The competition was held in the firing ground of NATO Joint Training and Evaluation Centre.

According to the administration of the Georgian Defence Forces, 12 teams of Defence Forces participated in the sports competition. The military personnel participating in the tournament had to overcome a distance of 100 to 700 meters.

The winners were revealed in three prize categories. The teams having taken II and III places were awarded medals and I place winner was granted the cup. In the individual category, I place was taken by the representatives of the Special Operations Forces, and II and III places were gained by the soldiers of III and I infantry brigades. In the team category, the SOF soldiers won I place and II and III places were taken by II and III Infantry Brigade military. 

Ambassador Braže reiterated NATO’s commitment in the Madrid Summit declaration to work with relevant stakeholders to hold all those responsible for war crimes accountable. Speaking in Ukrainian, Ambassador Braže said: “We stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, and we are determined to do all we can to support you. Your courage is an inspiration.”

The Russian War Crimes House exhibition consists of photos and a video depicting Russian atrocities in Ukraine. It will be on display at the NATO headquarters from 6 to 15 July. The exhibition was previously shown in Davos during the World Economic Forum in May 2022. It is organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Today’s opening ceremony was hosted by Ambassador Nataliia Galibarenko, the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO. The Mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, who was himself abducted in March for several days by the Russian forces, spoke in person of the destruction of Ukrainian lives, livelihoods and cities by the Russian invasion. The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, and the Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Anton Korynevych, addressed the audience remotely.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine, which established the NATO-Ukraine Commission providing the framework for our cooperation. Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO Allies have equipped and trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers. Following Russia’s invasion earlier this year, Allies have stepped up with billions of dollars of weapons and other assistance to help Ukraine uphold its right to self-defence and prevail against Russian aggression.

Source: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_197815.htm

Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the development of partnership between the two countries were the main topics of discussions between the Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili and the Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu.
The meeting, which took place during the Prime Minister's visit to Madrid, focused on Georgia's efforts to become a full member of the European Union and Romania's support in this regard. The Romanian Foreign Minister welcomed the granting of a European perspective to Georgia, taking the country to a newer level of European integration.
Discussions focused on the steps taken by Georgia on the path to European integration and the progress on the  strengthening democracy and the rule of law, protection of human rights, good governance and economic development were underlined.
Highlighting Georgia's NATO integration process, the sides referred to the strategic documents adopted at the summit and their importance in further advancing NATO-Georgia cooperation.
It was emphasized that Georgia is one of the Alliance’s most reliable partners making a huge contribution to strengthening the overall Euro-Atlantic security.
The sides also discussed the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia and the security challenges.
Bogdan Aurescu reaffirmed Romania's strong support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. For his part, Ilia Darchiashvili thanked his Romanian counterpart for Romania’s political and practical assistance provided to Georgia. The Georgian delegation led by the Prime Minister is participating in the NATO  Summit taking place  in Madrid.

MFA of Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, together with the Georgian delegation, took part in today's special meeting of the North Atlantic Council within the scope of the NATO Summit in Madrid. Besides the Alliance's member states, the session's participants included the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, and senior EU officials. The meeting discussed some of the challenges facing the global security architecture and the security environment emerging in the Euro-Atlantic space, with emphasis on the need to further the cooperation among NATO member and partner states in order to join forces toward helping maintain rules-based international order. The meeting also discussed the events unfolding in Ukraine. The importance of assisting Ukraine against the ongoing military aggression was also highlighted.

The Prime Minister of Georgia spoke about the worsening security situation in the Black Sea Region and Georgia's steps in light of these circumstances. The Prime Minister, in his speech, underlined the unprecedentedly high level of practical cooperation between Georgia and NATO over the past few years, also expressing hope that the country's progress in implementing reforms will have a positive impact on Georgia's path toward membership.

Several important documents have been adopted at the Madrid Summit, including the new Strategic Concept of NATO 2030, the Madrid Summit Declaration, and the Tailored Support Document for Georgia. Notably, all three documents contain issues of critical importance to Georgia. In particular, they reaffirm the decision made at the Bucharest Summit on Georgia's eventual NATO membership, also reinforcing NATO's open door policy, Georgia's status as an aspirant country, and the Alliance's unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The issue of Georgia is reflected in detail in the new Strategic Concept of NATO, the Alliance's guideline document in the course of the next ten years.

Notably, the Tailored Support Document for Georgia, approved at the summit, sets forth concrete measures for furthering Georgia's defense capabilities and enhancing NATO's effective engagement in this process.

Press Service of the Government Administration

"As a product of Cold War and the world's largest military alliance, NATO has long held onto the obsolete security vision. It has become a tool for certain countries to uphold their hegemony," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service