U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission Pushes NATO Interoperability

Ministry of Defence of Georgia
December 19, 2013
Statement of U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of State made a joint statement of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission Working Groups. In the statement essential attention is focused on meetings of Defence and Security working groups.
At the meeting of the Defense and Security Working Group, the U.S. expressed continuing support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and joint non-recognition efforts. Both sides highlighted Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The United States restated its continued support for Georgia’s membership in NATO.
Both parties underscored Georgia’s contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, where Georgia remains the largest non-NATO contributor, serves without national caveats in Helmand Province, and stands ready to contribute to the Alliance’s post-2014 mission in Afghanistan. The United States thanked the Georgian people for the significant contributions Georgia has made in Afghanistan and honored the sacrifices of the families of the fallen and the wounded.
Both sides underscored the progress made in fulfilling President Obama’s pledge to enhance cooperation in new areas focused on NATO interoperability and self-defense capabilities. The United States recognized the important progress achieved in Georgia’s defense reform process and expressed its continued support for Georgia’s reform efforts.
Working group meetings of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission was held in Washington on December 9.
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaniani and Georgian Deputy Defence Minister Micheil Darchiashvili co-chaired the meeting
From the Georgian side, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaniani and Deputy Defence Minister Mikheil Darchiashvili co-chaired the working group meeting. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Greg Kausner and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Evelyn Farkas participated in the working group meeting from the American side.

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