PM on Meeting with NATO Sec General: We Discussed NATO-Georgia Dynamic Cooperation

"During our very productive meeting with the Secretary General, a number of issues have been discussed, including the NATO-Georgia dynamic bilateral cooperation, multiple high-level visits, and the successful completion of the NATO-Georgia exercise [in 2019]," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated at a joint press conference, which was held after the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

The head of the government noted that the meetings of the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package have been identified as important instruments in advancing NATO-Georgia cooperation. According to him, it is very important for us to keep the political dimension of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package in order to support Georgia's preparation for full membership.

"Mr. Secretary General, first of all, let me thank you for hosting us today and for the very productive meeting. Personally, for me, this was a very substantial conversation. During our very productive meeting with the Secretary General, a number of issues have been discussed, including the NATO-Georgia dynamic bilateral cooperation, multiple high-level visits, and the successful completion of NATO-Georgia exercise [in 2019]. The NATO-Georgia Commission meetings and the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package have been identified as important instruments in advancing NATO-Georgia cooperation. It is very important for us to keep the political dimension of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package in order to support Georgia's preparation for full membership. We have underlined Georgia's commitment to continue participation in the Resolute Support mission [in Afghanistan]. We have underlined the importance of developing a practical mechanism to enhance Black Sea security, and Black Sea Security becomes more and more important in our cooperation. We have also discussed Georgia's role in the narrow South Caucasus paradigm and highlighted the importance of our role beyond, in the wider Black Sea Region," the Prime Minister stated.

Giorgi Gakharia noted the importance of the open door policy maintained by NATO.

The head of the government emphasized the situation in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region, the occupied territories of Georgia, and thanked the NATO Secretary General for his continued assistance and support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"We once again underlined the importance of the open door policy maintained by NATO. We have discussed the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region, and I would like to express our gratitude to the Secretary General for your support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. We also discussed Georgia's progress in its Euro-Atlantic integration path and the country's democratic reforms.

"Once again, I would like to thank the Secretary General for hosting us, and for the very important and productive conversation," the Prime Minister stated.