Georgia's Role in Black Sea Security Emphasized in Brussels
The NATO-Georgia Commission meeting was held at the Permanent Representative level in NATO Headquarters, Brussels. Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani addressed the Alliance Permanent members.
At the meeting, the NATO Secretary General's visit to Georgia was noted as highly valuable, and once again NATO's strong support for Georgia was confirmed. The importance of the NATO Military Committee's visit to Georgia and NATO-Georgia joint exercises were also emphasized. It was highlighted that the active dynamics of the past week in terms of NATO-Georgia cooperation underlines Georgia's special place in the NATO political agenda and represents another demonstration of recognition from the Alliance.
The NATO-Georgia Commission meeting was dedicated to Black Sea security issues and noted that discussions on the Black Sea with Georgia's participation are crucial in the context of NATO's Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Washington, where one of the key issues on the table will be the security of the Black Sea region. Representatives of the Alliance member states noted the difficult security environment in the Black Sea region.
The NATO-Georgia Commission session emphasized Georgia's important role and practical engagement in the process of ensuring the security of the Black Sea, including Georgia's active involvement in the process of implementing decisions on the Black Sea region at the Brussels Summit, declared in the visits of ships from NATO maritime groups, in joint activities in preparation for cross-border naval boarding groups in Georgia, in the exchange of reconnaissance information, as well as in the development of air and sea monitoring capabilities.
The Georgian side highlighted the particular importance of the Black Sea for common European security, as well as its important economic role in the development of European-Asian transit capabilities.
Speaking about regional security, Minister Zalkaliani informed the participants of the Commission meeting about the situation in Georgia's occupied regions, the gross violation of human rights and the facts of life Infringement in those places. The Alliance members once again stated their strong support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the peacekeeping policy of the country.
Georgia's progress on NATO integration was once again confirmed at the meeting. It was noted that aspirant Georgia has all the practical tools needed to join NATO, with Georgia's national program and the successful implementation of the NATO-Georgia essential package highly appreciated. The Alliance member states once again highlighted Georgia's democratic, political and economic reforms and underlined Georgia's leading positions in this direction. It was noted that the Alliance is loyal to the open-door policy and expressed willingness to continue supporting Georgia's accession to NATO. The allies once again recognized Georgia's important contribution to NATO peacekeeping missions.
By Mariam Merabishvili
Image source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia