Itar-Tass
May 1, 2014
NATO to consider Georgia’s offer to host defensive systems
The offer was made by Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Aalasania at an international conference entitled “Europe Whole and Free”
TBILISI: NATO will consider Georgia’s offer to host defensive systems, the alliance’s special envoy for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai said.
The offer was made by Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Aalasania at an international conference entitled “Europe Whole and Free” organized by the Atlantic Council in Washington on Thursday, May 1. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen who attended the conference said he would familiarize his colleagues with the offer.
Appathurai said Alasania’s message was straight and clear, and expressed hope that NATO would consider it.
As an organization, NATO has no defensive systems, but its member states have them, and the alliance can arrange for their deployment as it did in Turkey during the conflict in Syria.
Speaking at a joint briefing with Appathurai, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said the deployment of such defensive systems in her country would be “a timely, considering the situation, and interesting idea which has not been considered yet but which is worth considering”.
“Time will show what specific actions will follow. For the time being, it’s just one of the ideas that is interesting to our partners as well,” she said.
“Now West has to seize the opportunity … to create the reality on the ground by accepting the membership of aspirant countries to NATO by putting some defensive, purely defensive assets in the aspirant countries and predominantly in Georgia,” Alasania said in his presentation the text of which was posted on the Georgian Defense Ministry’s website.
The European Union and NATO are the only organizations Georgia plans to join, Panjikidze said earlier.
NATO reiterated its decision to admit Georgia to the alliance. The NATO leaders agreed “to enhance Georgia’s connectivity with the Alliance, including by further strengthening our political dialogue, practical cooperation, and interoperability with Georgia”.
They continue to encourage and actively support Georgia’s ongoing implementation of all necessary reforms, including democratic, electoral, and judicial reforms, as well as security and defence reforms.
Four states described by NATO as aspirant countries are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Georgia’s top officials say that Tbilisi continues the policy of integration with the North Atlantic Alliance and stress that membership in the alliance will help strengthen the country’s independence, security and sovereignty, facilitate its socio-economic and democratic development.
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Ministry of Defence of Georgia
May 1, 2014
Minister Alasania meets Vice President Joseph Biden
On April 30, 2014, during Atlantic Council’s Meet and Greet, Minister Alasania met with Vice President of the United States, Hon. Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Irakli Alasania expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Vice President for active support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as aspiration to NATO membership. Defence Minister once more underlined the importance of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership.
At the meeting the sides discussed the Ukrainian crisis and Russia’s policy in the region. Irakli Alasania highlighted the importance of the unity of the U.S. and EU combined actions for stabilization the existing situation and overcoming challenges in the region. Georgia’s NATO membership was one of the main topics of the discussion at the meeting. The Georgian side once more emphasized the necessity of granting MAP to Georgia and U.S. active support in this respect.
At the meeting the sides talked over the U.S.-Georgia bilateral cooperation issues as well. The U.S. Vice President underlined the essential progress Georgia has achieved in defence reforming process. He also thanked the Georgian discussion at the meeting. The Georgian side once more emphasized the necessity of granting MAP to Georgia and U.S. active support in this respect.
At the meeting the sides talked over the U.S.-Georgia bilateral cooperation issues as well. The U.S. Vice President underlined the essential progress Georgia has achieved in defence reforming process. He also thanked the Georgian side for the contribution to NATO-led ISAF mission. The sides referred to the ongoing democratic process in Georgia as well.
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