Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia regarding the NATO Summit in Madrid
The Madrid Summit decisions, including both their practical and political dimensions, are of paramount importance to Georgia.
In view of the challenges facing us, the further development of NATO-Georgia practical cooperation and the deepening of the political dialogue are essential for the improvement of regional security. We hail the approval by the Allies of a set of tailored support measures for Georgia. The document envisages concrete steps to further enhance Georgia’s defence capabilities and to achieve NATO’s more effective engagement in this process. This new instrument, along with the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, will create a greater scope for bringing Georgia’s defence and security sector closer to NATO standards and to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.
Georgia welcomes the adoption of a new strategic concept by the NATO Summit in Madrid. The new concept duly reflects the recent geopolitical shifts and the Alliance’s long-term response to the emerging threats. It needs to be highlighted that the new strategic concept gives due consideration to the topical importance of the Open Door Policy and to Georgia’s membership perspective, in line with the 2008 Bucharest Summit Decision, as well as to the fundamental principle that each sovereign country has the right to choose its own security arrangements, without external interference in any form.
Paramount importance needs to be attached to NATO’s unequivocal support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as confirmed repeatedly in several documents adopted by the Madrid Summit.
Georgia highly appraises the Madrid Summit decisions to further strengthen the security of the NATO Member States, as well as to ensure the Black Sea security.
We also welcome the Madrid Summit’s decision regarding the enlargement of the Alliance. We congratulate Finland and Sweden on being invited to join the Alliance. Their accession will make Europe safer and the Alliance – stronger. Being the actual implementation of the Open Door Policy, this process is essentially important for Georgia, as an aspirant country. We also hail the decision of the Alliance to continue to support Ukraine.
Georgia places a particularly high value on the messages voiced during the North Atlantic Council’s meeting signaling the Member States’ firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its Euro-Atlantic integration.
The decisions made regarding Georgia during the Summit will contribute to improving Georgia’s security and defence capabilities and will bring the country closer to its ultimate goal – NATO Membership.
MFA of Georgia
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Azerbaijan launches localised anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh
Baku/19.09.23/Turan: The Azerbaijani armed forces launched an anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh on 19 September, the Defence Ministry said at noon.
Systematic shelling, mining of territories, strengthening of combat positions, growth in the number of trenches and dugouts by the Armenian armed forces in Karabakh has caused increased tensions, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
There is observed strengthening of combat positions with personnel, armoured vehicles, artillery and other firepower, bringing units to a high level of combat readiness, creation of additional mobilisation units, expansion of reconnaissance activities, penetration deep into the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces to repeatedly mine cleared territories and civilian roads for sabotage and terrorist purposes, the statement said.
On 19 September in Karabakh, 6 people, including four policemen, were killed as a result of mines planted by Armenian saboteurs.
Local anti-terrorist measures have been launched in the region "in order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 2020, the suppression of large-scale provocations in the Karabakh Economic region, the disarmament and withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from our territories, the neutralization of their military infrastructure, ensuring the safety of civilians who have returned to the territories liberated from occupation and civil servants involved in the construction and restoration work and our military, as well as the restoration of the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan".
Within the framework of the measures mentioned above, positions of the Armenian armed forces formations, their long-term firing points, as well as military means and military facilities are put out of action using high-precision weapons in the front line and in depth.
We reiterate that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure are not targets, only legitimate military targets are taken out of action.
The command of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre have been informed about the activities," the statement said.
Within the framework of the measures, positions of the Armenian armed forces formations, their long-term firing points, as well as military means and military facilities are put out of action using high-precision weapons in the front line and in depth.
We reiterate that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure are not targets, only legitimate military targets are taken out of action.
The command of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre have been informed about the activities," the statement said.
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THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GEORGIA, ILIA DARCHIASHVILI HAS PAID AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili and the Minister of Economy and Industry of the State of Israel, Nir Barkat signed a joint declaration on completion of the technical and economic feasibility study for a free trade agreement between Georgia and the State of Israel.
Before the signing ceremony, the Minister had a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel. Within the framework of the meeting, the sides discussed current issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and the great potential of cooperation in the economic area, including bilateral trade, investments and tourism.
Within the framework of the two-day visit, Ilia Darchiashvili will meet with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog.
Meetings with the chairman of the Knesset, ministers of economy, tourism and internal affairs are also planned. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will lay a wreath at the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre on behalf of the Georgian people. -
The EU Foreign Affairs Council took place on 24 April, with the situation in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as priority topics.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba addressed the EU ministers via video conference, and briefed them about the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s military priorities and needs, especially in terms of ammunition and missiles.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell highlighted that in total the EU and its member states have already facilitated the delivery to Ukraine of over €13 billion in military support.
He also updated ministers on EU military support to Ukraine in the context of the three-track plan. On track one, the EU adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €1 billion to address Ukraine’s most immediate needs. EU member states are also finalising work on track two, to facilitate joint procurement. Lastly, the European Commission will soon present concrete proposals on how to ramp up the European defence production capacity under track three.
Ministers were also informed about the activities of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), which has already exceeded its initial target by training over 16,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The EU aims to train a total of 30,000 soldiers by the end of 2023.
EU Foreign Ministers also held an informal exchange with the Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, and confirmed that Georgia has made significant progress in many key reforms. They also highlighted that rule of law, human rights, media, civil society and independent state institutions are important elements for each country aspiring to join the EU.
Concerning Moldova, the Foreign Affairs Council established a new civilian EU CSDP partnership mission (EUPM Moldova), reached a broad agreement on a new framework for sanctions against those who destabilise the country, and on allocating further €40 million coming from the European Peace Facility to support Moldova’s defence capabilities.
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ILIA DARCHIASHVILI PARTICIPATES IN THE MEETING OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE FORMAT OF INFORMAL DISCUSSION
On 24 April 2023, within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) session, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili will attend a meeting with high-ranking representatives of the European Union and the foreign ministers of the Member States.
Within the framework of the meeting, the main topic of discussions will be the enlargement of the European Union and the prospect for Georgia's accession; In addition, the priority directions of Georgia-EU relations and prospects for deepening cooperation will be discussed, as well as the progress achieved by Georgia in terms of fulfilling the 12 priorities of the European Commission.
As part of the visit to Luxembourg, a bilateral meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with his counterpart is also planned.
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On 20 April 2023, within the framework of his working visit to the Republic of Italy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili, attended the "Touch of Heaven" exhibition dedicated to the Georgian alphabet. The exhibition was held in the historical building of the Florence Palace, where the works of calligrapher and artist, Giorgi Sisauri were displayed.
Within the framework of the exhibition, 38 uppercase letters and 19 religious themes were presented.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Georgia to the Holy See, through the support of the Dante Alighieri Society.
