PM Bakhtadze: Georgia Is Reliable Partner of NATO

While visiting NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, where NATO-Georgia Exercise 2019 is underway, Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze delivered a speech, underlining Georgia is a reliable partner of NATO.

The PM pointed out that holding the exercise in Georgia is another clear demonstration of close cooperation with NATO.

“Georgia is fully aware of the contemporary security environment and, together with international partners, assumed the responsibility of ensuring global peace and stability. As you know, the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) brings together unique initiatives to be successfully implemented in order to promote our country's enhanced resilience, development, better interoperability with NATO, and preparation for NATO membership," he said.

Bakhtadze underlined it is very important to us that NATO is holding this exercise in Georgia, a non-member country.

“Organizing a multinational exercise in Georgia, with the participation of 24 allied and partner countries, reiterates the Alliance's firm support of Georgia in the effective implementation of the SNGP, and in fulfilling Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. This is the first multinational NATO exercise fully led by Georgia. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our strategic partner for this trust," he added.

The PM noted that joint NATO-Georgia exercises provide the troops of Georgia and NATO member and partner states with an excellent opportunity to step up a joint and coordinated action in a variety of scenario-based settings and to share experience, as a means to enhance their effectiveness. He added “this format enables our troops, together with representatives of the armed forces of the allies and partner countries, further to enhance their professional skills in line with NATO procedures."

NATO-Georgia Exercise 2019 takes place on March 18-29 and brings together almost 350 armed forces members and civilians. 

By Thea Morrison