Georgian parliamentary political parties today will sign a joint statement in support of Georgia’s NATO integration ahead of the June 14 Brussels NATO Summit.

“We, the undersigned parliamentary political parties of Georgia: Guided by the national interests of Georgia and the Constitution of Georgia; Reaffirming the Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia on the Foreign Policy of Georgia adopted on December 29, 2020; Adhering to the principles of the rules-based international order; Adhering fully to the values on which the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is founded; Taking into account that the sustained commitment of NATO Member States to collective defense has ensured ‘Europe whole, free, and at peace’. Noting that the NATO Open Door policy has been a major contributing factor to the democratic transformation of Central and Eastern Europe; Taking into account the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO; Noting that Georgia has all practical tools for NATO membership, continues to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and progresses in achieving full interoperability with NATO; Taking into consideration that Georgia has demonstrated its commitment to being an important contributor to Euro-Atlantic security through participating in NATO peacekeeping missions and operations. Stand united in supporting Georgia’s NATO membership and declare the following:

1. We unanimously reaffirm that NATO membership remains a vital national security interest of Georgia, enjoying broad consensual political and societal support.
2. We express appreciation to the Alliance and its Member States for the essential political and practical support, which allows Georgia to boost its resilience and interoperability with the Alliance as well as to prepare Georgia for the membership in NATO.
3. We call on NATO and its Member States to continue their close partnership with Georgia as it prepares to implement ambitious reforms jointly agreed by parliamentary political parties to complete democratic consolidation, as well as to provide more vigorous assistance and experience sharing in the fight against emerging and hybrid threats.
4. We underline the importance of deepening cooperation on Black Sea security. The wider Black Sea security environment has significantly deteriorated in recent years, given that Russian activities threaten regional security and democracies in this region. Taking this into account, NATO’s engagement in the Black Sea as an essential deterring and stabilising factor, has acquired more significance than ever.
5. We welcome the ambitious report NATO 2030: United for a New Era and express hope that the new Strategic Concept of the Alliance will properly reflect the report’s recommendations on the Open Door Policy as well as NATO’s vision regarding the Black Sea and its role in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security.
6. We express our joint commitment to stronger NATO acting in defense of peace, democracy and prosperity of freedom-loving nations, including Georgia.
7. We underscore the importance of moving forward with the political decision bringing Georgia closer to membership in the Alliance. Extending NATO membership to Georgia and other aspiring countries in Eastern Europe will reinforce security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area, deter potential aggressors and bring us closer to a ‘Europe that is whole, free, and at peace’.
8. We believe that the upcoming NATO Brussels Summit provides an opportunity to register progress on Georgia’s NATO membership path. Since Georgia is not represented at the summit, we ask our NATO partners to take this joint statement of the parliamentary political parties as an explicit multi-party support towards Georgia’s NATO membership.
9. We stand ready to use all available platforms, including international inter-parliamentary assemblies, to support deeper integration and eventual NATO membership of Georgia,” reads the statement.

The NATO 2030 initiative will be the main issue for discussion at the upcoming Summit of NATO leaders on June 14 in Brussels.

“The goal of our NATO 2030 initiative is to prepare our Alliance for the future. Over the past months, Allies have been consulting closely and constructively; we still have some work to do, but we all agree that we must take ambitious and forward-looking decisions to show transatlantic unity not just in words, but in deeds,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a virtual press conference on June 1.

Source: https://1tv.ge/en/news/parliamentary-parties-to-sign-joint-statement-in-support-of-georgias-nato-integration/

Prime Minister of Georgia summarized the specific results of the US Secretary of State John Kerry. He considered the visit as successful and indicated that John Kerry already obtained tangible deliverables that will bring US-Georgian strategic partnership to a new level.
"The visit of the US Secretary of State John Kerry to Georgia is yet another clear demonstration of the active support to Georgia, Mister Kerry's visit ahead of the NATO Summit in Warsaw exemplifies support for Georgia on its path to NATO integration.
Tangible results of the visit are the memoranda that have been signed - Georgia-US Memorandum on Deeper Defense and Security Cooperation. This memorandum provides a new framework for deeper partnership and covers fields of cooperation that are critically important for strengthening Georgia's security and enhancing its defense capabilities.
Equally important is the signing of another document designed to boost Georgia-US cooperation in the field of education by enhancing the Fulbright Student Program. Consequently, it doubles the number of Georgian students that will receive be able to obtain education n the US.
We have also discussed an important project Growth that will be funded by USAID. It seeks to promote economic growth in Georgia's regions along the occupation line. It is expected that the project will create up to 2,000 new workplaces thus affecting 11 000 families.
I consider that there are quite important achievements that were brought about by the visit and I would like to congratulate you on them!" - Giorgi Kvirikashvili indicated.

The Committee heard the State Minister on EU and NATO Integration, David Bakradze and the Deputy-Economic Minister, Genadi Arveladze, introducing Georgia-EUAA and EU and European Nuclear Energy Union and member states AA agendas (Chapter IV – Trade and Trade-related issues and Chapter VI – Other spheres of cooperation) implementation Action plan 2015 report and national action plan for 2016.

As David Bakradze stated, Georgia has achieved significant progress on EU integration path first of all with signing the documents, conditioning the reforming process involving all state agencies. In this regards, 2015 was a very important year. This document has already been signed by all member states, ratified and submitted to Brussels and on April 1, EUAA will completely enter into force. As unanimously noted on visa liberalization, Georgia has done its best to provide the population with a very tangible benefit of visa free regime to EU Schengen states. As noted, in the nearest future, EU Commission will initiate the respective draft to the EP and EU Council.
He spoke about 2015 plan implementation and noted that the main progress is achieved in: jurisdiction (court, prosecutor’s office, criminal reform, minor code), penitentiary, personal data protection, migration, shelter legal frame, security reform, public sector reform, agriculture, environmental protection, culture, education, trade. Besides, up to 140 trainings and workshops have been held for public servants, study visits to EU member and candidate states have been provided. All the Ministries and state agencies have implemented vast works to implement all EUAA obligations. Reforms in view of approximation to EU legislation standards have been positively evaluated by EU at November 16, 2015 Georgia-EU Association Council second sitting.
According to the Chair, Zurab Tkemaladze, “if we had any shortcomings, I hope they will be overcome. It is important that Georgia has successfully accomplished visa liberalization process. This message shall be once more sent to all European partners and the report shall be submitted to our population to inform them about benefits”.
He noted merits by EU representations and NGOs, rendering aid to our country. “These material or intellectual aid resulted in our achievements that the Government members and agencies spoke today about. We shall implement assumed obligations and represent our country on international theatre in dignified manner”.
The participants of the meeting were executive structures, diplomatic missions, Ambassadors, international organizations and NGOs. It was noted that such meetings and joint considerations will facilitate to correct EU integration process.
The Committee gave the positive evaluation to Georgia-EUAA and EU and European Nuclear Energy Union and member states AA agendas (Chapter IV – Trade and Trade-related issues and Chapter VI – Other spheres of cooperation) implementation Action plan 2015 report and took note of the action plan for 2016.