NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NATO’s relations with Georgia

Georgia is an aspirant for NATO membership, actively contributes to NATO-led operations and cooperates with the Allies and other partner countries in many other areas. The NATO-Georgia Commission provides a unique framework through which NATO and Georgia pursue active political dialogue and practical cooperation in support of Georgia’s reform efforts and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

• Framework for cooperation

  The NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) provides the framework for cooperation between NATO and Georgia. Created in September 2008, the NGC serves as a forum for both political consultations and practical cooperation to help Georgia advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Existing cooperation programmes, such as the Planning and Review Process (PARP), continue to take place within the framework of the NGC. A NATO Liaison Office was established in Georgia in 2010 to assist and support the country’s reform efforts.

  In December 2008, NATO foreign ministers decided to further enhance the NGC through the development of an Annual National Programme (ANP). The ANP, the first of which was finalised in spring 2009, replaced the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), which has guided NATO-Georgia cooperation since 2004.
  In addition to Georgia’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic peace and stability, key areas of cooperation under the ANP include political, military and security-sector reforms. NATO agrees to support Georgia in these reforms by providing focused and comprehensive advice and activities in several frameworks (both civilian and military) towards its reform goals. Current priorities for Georgia include transforming its public and private sectors in order to promote democracy, good governance, the rule of law and sustainable social and economic development, as well as reforming the defence and security sector, in particular revision of Georgia’s national security plans.

  Georgia also cooperates with NATO and other partner countries in a wide range of other areas through the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).

  In parallel with the establishment of the NGC, the Military Committee with Georgia was also created as a format for meetings focused on military cooperation. The principal aim of NATO-Georgia military cooperation is to assist Georgia with the implementation of military and defence-related issues of the ANP, strategic planning, defence reforms and to increase interoperability in support of Georgia’s contributions to NATO-led operations. The Military Committee with Georgia Work Plan defines key areas and objectives for military cooperation between NATO and the Georgian Armed Forces. The Work Plan comprises activities that help achieve the goals set in the ANP and PARP.

• Key areas of cooperation

  Security cooperation

  Thanks to regular participation in PfP training and exercises, Georgia has been able to contribute actively to Euro-Atlantic security by supporting NATO-led operations. Georgian troops worked alongside NATO troops in the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo from 1999 to 2008, providing a company-sized unit as part of the German brigade there and an infantry platoon within a Turkish battalion task force.

  Georgia currently provides two full infantry battalions serving with United States’ forces, an infantry company serving with the French contingent in Kabul, medical personnel to assist ISAF within the Lithuanian Provincial Reconstruction Team and some individual staff officers. With around 1500 military personnel, Georgia is currently the largest contributor to ISAF among NATO’s partner countries. Furthermore, Georgia is ready to continue to serve as a transit country for ISAF supplies.

  Georgia has also indicated its willingness to participate in the post-2014 NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces, which will be deployed once the transition to Afghan security lead has been completed and ISAF’s operation is terminated. The Georgian government has also pledged financial support for the future development of the Afghan National Security Forces.

  Georgia participates in NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour, a counter-terrorist maritime surveillance operation in the Mediterranean, primarily through intelligence exchange.

  Georgia has a mountain training site, which is accredited as a Partnership Training and Education Centre and offers courses and training to Allies and other partner countries.

  Defence and security sector reform

  NATO is supportive of the wide-ranging democratic and institutional reform process underway in Georgia, as outlined in its ANP. Particularly in the area of defence and security sector reform, NATO and individual Allies have considerable expertise upon which Georgia can draw.

  Georgia’s participation in the Planning and Review Process (PARP) since 1999 has helped develop the ability of its forces to work with NATO and is also providing planning targets that are key to security reform objectives in several areas. NATO support has, for example, helped Georgia build deployable units according to NATO standards and interoperable with Allied forces. Georgia’s defence reform objectives within the PARP have facilitated improved financial management in the Ministry of Defence, assisted in reforming the intelligence structure of the armed forces and ensured that a credible Strategic Defence Review was conducted.

  A key priority for Georgia is to ensure democratic control of the armed forces. Georgia’s participation in the Partnership Action Plan on Defence Institution Building (PAP-DIB) is reinforcing these efforts, such as by promoting effective judicial oversight and appropriate defence command and control arrangements through a range of measurable objectives within the ANP.

  Education and training is also a key objective of Georgia’s ANP and reform efforts. NATO is leading a tailored programme for Georgia – the Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) – with the support of the PfP Consortium of Defence Academies and Security Studies Institutes, the Partnerships Training and Education Centres and Allied defence institutions.

  Following Georgia’s request in 2008, NATO and Georgia launched a Professional Development Programme for Civilian Personnel in the Ministry of Defence and Other Security Institutions in Georgia in 2009. The programme provides training with the aim of strengthening the capacity for democratic management and oversight in the Ministry of Defence, as well as other security sector institutions. Training and education provided in the framework of this programme is closely aligned to Georgia’s defence and security sector reform objectives outlined in both the ANP and PARP. Current priorities are to support Georgia’s civil service reform and enhance Georgia’s own capacity for providing training to security sector civilian personnel.

  Another priority in the area of defence and security-sector reform has been to support demilitarization projects in Georgia through the NATO/PfP Trust Fund mechanism which allows individual Allies and partner countries to provide financial support to key projects on a voluntary basis. Over the years, a number of Trust Fund projects have helped to address problems posed by stockpiles of surplus and obsolete weapons and munitions, and promoted their safe disposal.

  Civil emergency planning

  Georgia is enhancing its national civil emergency and disaster-management capabilities in cooperation with NATO and through participation in activities organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).

  The Centre helped coordinate the delivery of hundreds of tonnes of relief items to Georgia in the wake of the August 2008 conflict. It also coordinated assistance to Georgia in 2005 when the country experienced some of the worst flooding in its history, in 2006 when forest fires broke out in southern Georgia, and after a major earthquake in 2009.

  Georgia itself hosted a major EADRCC consequence-management field exercise in the town of Rustavi in September 2012. Some 1000 people from 35 nations participated in the exercise, which was organised in cooperation with the Emergency Management Department of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

  Science and environment

  Scientists and researchers from Georgia benefit from opportunities offered under the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, which promotes collaboration, networking and capacity building among scientists from NATO and partner countries. Activities supported include research, seminars, workshops and joint studies on security-related scientific issues and environmental concerns. NATO has two key priorities for scientific collaboration: defence against terrorism and countering other threats to security.

  Georgia has been involved in NATO science activities since 1994. Many activities are aimed at aiding the country’s reform and interoperability efforts, such as research and technology in air defence systems and data standardization, and reducing the environmental impact of military activities and munitions disposal. Other projects include collaboration on improving transboundary water quality and mitigating the risks posed by earthquakes in the South Caucasus.

  Public information

  Increasing the public awareness of NATO and its relations with Georgia is also a key area of cooperation. Since 2002, in cooperation with local non-governmental organizations and state authorities, NATO, through its Liaison Office in Tbilisi, has been organizing numerous activities to this end, including seminars, conferences and workshops. “NATO Weeks” and summer schools are organized on an annual basis to reach out to youth audiences.

  Groups of opinion leaders from Georgia are regularly invited to visit NATO Headquarters and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) for briefings about the Alliance, and NATO officials regularly travel to Georgia to speak at public events. Senior NATO officials – including the Secretary General and the Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia – also regularly visit the country for high-level consultations. The North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest political decision-making body, paid a two-day visit to the country in September 2008, in the immediate aftermath of the Georgia crisis. The Council paid a second visit in November 2011 and another visit is planned for June 2013.

  In every partner country an embassy of one of the NATO member states serves as a contact point and operates as a channel for disseminating information about the role and policies of the Alliance. The current NATO Contact Point Embassy in Georgia is the embassy of Romania.

  The Office of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration has established an Information Center on NATO, which has its main office in Tbilisi and branches in Kutaisi and Zugdidi. Working in close cooperation with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division and with the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, it is an important tool in raising public awareness about the Alliance in the country.

• Response to the Georgian crisis

  At an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council on 19 August 2008, Allied foreign ministers called for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict based on respect for Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

  Allied foreign ministers deplored the use of force in the conflict, which is inconsistent with the commitments to the peaceful resolution of conflicts that both Georgia and Russia have made under the Partnership for Peace as well as other international agreements. They expressed particular concern over Russia's disproportionate military action which is incompatible with Russia’s peacekeeping role in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Allies also called on Russia to take immediate action to withdraw its troops from the areas it must leave under the terms of the six-point agreement brokered by the European Union.

  The Allies agreed to support Georgia, upon its request, in a number of areas. These include assessing the damage to civil infrastructure and the state of the ministry of defence and armed forces; supporting the re-establishment of the air traffic system; and advising on cyber defence issues.

  On 27 August 2008, the North Atlantic Council condemned the decision by the Russian Federation to extend recognition to the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia, and called on Russia to reverse its decision.

  NATO continues to support Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders as reiterated at meetings of Allied Heads of State and Government and in the Secretary General’s statements. The Secretary General has issued statements underlining that NATO does not recognise elections that have since taken place in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and that the holding of such elections does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement.

  The Allies welcome the declaration by the Georgian president – recently endorsed by the Georgian Parliament in a unanimously adopted resolution on Georgia’s foreign policy objectives – to seek a resolution to the crises with the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia through peaceful means. They strongly support Georgia’s current strategy of engagement with the two breakaway regions, which envisions a constructive way forward through fostering economic ties and people-to-people contacts to build confidence.

  The Allies also welcome the steps Georgia has taken unilaterally towards Russia in recent years, including the removal of visa requirements for Russian citizens, the agreement on Russia’s membership of the World Trade Organization; as well as the direct dialogue that has been initiated with the Russian government by the new Georgian government, which came into power in October 2012.

• Evolution of relations

  NATO-Georgia relations date back to 1992, when Georgia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (later renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997), upon gaining independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Cooperation deepened and broadened after Georgia joined the Partnership for Peace programme in 1994 and the Planning and Review Process (PARP) in 1999.

  After the “Rose Revolution” in 2003, the focus on supporting Georgia’s domestic reform process intensified, in particular through the development of the Georgia’s first IPAP with NATO in 2004. Georgia was granted an Intensified Dialogue on membership aspirations in September 2006. At their Summit in Bucharest in April 2008, NATO leaders agreed that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance.

  In September 2008, NATO and Georgia inaugurated the NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC), which plays a central role in supervising the process set in hand at Bucharest. In December 2008, Allied foreign ministers agreed to the development of an Annual National Programme (ANP) under the NGC.

  Milestones

  1992	Georgia joins the newly created North Atlantic Cooperation Council (succeeded by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997).
  1994	Georgia joins the Partnership for Peace (PfP), a programme aimed at increasing security and defence cooperation between NATO and individual partner countries.
  1995	Georgia signs the PfP Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the NATO and partner countries
  1997	Georgian Parliament ratifies the SOFA agreement
  1999	Georgia joins the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).
  	Georgia starts contributing peacekeepers to the Kosovo Force (KFOR).
  2001	Georgia hosts a multinational PfP military training exercise “Cooperative Partner 2001”
  2002	Georgia is connected to the Virtual Silk Highway.
  	Georgia hosts a multinational PfP military training exercise “Cooperative Best Effort 2002”.
  	Georgia declares its aspirations to NATO membership and its intention to develop an Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO
  2003	A NATO/PfP Trust Fund project is launched with Georgia to support the demilitarization of ground-to-air defence missiles
  	Georgia participates in ISAF’s election security force in Afghanistan.
  	At the Istanbul Summit, Allied leaders place special focus on the Caucasus – a special NATO representative and a liaison officer are assigned to the region.
  2005	Georgia becomes the first country to agree an IPAP with NATO.NATO and Georgia sign a transit agreement allowing the Alliance and other ISAF troop-contributing nations to send supplies for their forces in Afghanistan through Georgia.
  	Georgia opens an information centre on NATO with the support of NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division.
  2006	NATO offers an Intensified Dialogue to Georgia.
  2007	Georgia hosts a NATO/PfP air exercise, “Cooperative Archer 2007”.
  2008	At their Summit in Bucharest, NATO leaders agree Georgia will become a member of NATO.
  	In August, the Allies express deep concern over the armed conflict between Georgia and Russia, calling for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict based on respect for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. They agree to support Georgia’s recovery in a number of areas and also propose the establishment of a NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) to supervise the process set at hand at the Bucharest Summit and to oversee the implementation of support measures.
  	In September, the North Atlantic Council pays a two-day visit to Georgia. The Framework Document establishing the NATO-Georgia Commission is signed and the inaugural meeting takes place in Tbilisi. In December, Allied foreign ministers agree to the development of an Annual National Programme (ANP) under the auspices of the NGC.
  2009	On 4 February, the Georgian foreign minister, vice prime minister and defence minister visit NATO for the first meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) in 2009.
  	On 20 February, Allied and Georgian defence ministers discuss Georgia's progress in defence reform and its priorities.
  	On 5 March, the NGC meets in Brussels for the second time at the level of foreign ministers to discuss a range of issues of common interest.
  	Mid-March 2009, a NATO-led team of experts visits Georgia to address a Georgian request to review the existing military education and training system, and develop a plan of action for reform.
  	May 2009, the first Steering Committee meeting for the NATO-Georgia Professional Development Programme for Civilian Personnel of Georgian MOD and Other Security Institutions takes place at NATO HQ, Brussels.
  	Following elections on 31 May in the South Ossetia region of Georgia, NATO’s Secretary General issues a statement saying that NATO does not recognise the elections and that the holding of such elections does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia.
  	On 3 December, the NGC meets to discuss the course of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and process of reform.
  2010	On 12 March, key agreements are signed to begin a Trust Fund project that will help Georgia safely dispose of explosive remnants of war.
  	In March, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili visits NATO Headquarters to meet NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
  	In April, Georgia signs an agreement with NATO to contribute to Operation Active Endeavour, NATO’s maritime counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean.
  	In May, Georgian foreign ministry hosts a seminar on “Energy Security and Critical Energy Infrastructure” in Tbilisi.
  	In May, Allies and Georgia Chiefs of Defence meet in the Military Committee to discuss and support the transformation process of the Georgian Armed Forces.
  	In August, the North Atlantic Council decided to enhance NATO-Georgia relations through effective military cooperation (this leads to the development and implementation of the first annual, Military Committee with the Georgia Work Plan in 2011).
  	In October, NATO Liaison Office is inaugurated during the NATO Secretary General’s visit to Georgia, where he meets the Georgian president, prime minister and senior ministers.
  	At the Lisbon Summit, Allied leaders recall their agreement that Georgia will become a member of NATO and reaffirm all elements of their decision made at the Bucharest Summit in 2008, declaring their active support for Georgia’s continued implementation of all necessary reforms. They reiterate their continued support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.
  	In February, the Director General of the International Military Staff of NATO visits Georgia to discuss the status and prospect of NATO-Georgia military to military cooperation.
  2011	In April, NGC foreign ministers meet in Berlin and adopt, for the first time, a joint statement which reaffirms the basic principles of NATO-Georgia cooperation. NATO ministers express strong appreciation for Georgia’s substantial contribution to Euro-Atlantic security and the overall positive dynamic in Georgia’s democratic development.
  	In June, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia visits NATO HQ for a meeting of the NGC and informs Allies about key democratic reforms in his country.
  	In May, Military Committee with Georgia meets at the level of Chief of Defence to discuss Georgia’s contributions to operations and the status of the implementation of defence reforms derived from the strategic defence review.
  	In July, the Georgian foreign ministry hosts a conference on emerging security challenges with the support of the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.
  	In August, SACEUR visited Georgia to discuss Georgia’s current and future contribution to operations.
  	Following so-called presidential elections on 26 August in the Abkhazia region of Georgia, NATO’s Secretary General states that NATO does not recognize the elections and that the holding of such elections does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia.
  	In November, the North Atlantic Council pays a visit to Tbilisi and Batumi and meets the President, the Chairman of the Parliament, the Prime Minister and other high-level officials of the country, as well as representatives of civil society, media and the opposition. The NGC agrees to pursue further work on concrete measures to enhance Georgia’s relations with NATO.
  	Following so-called presidential elections on 13 November in the South Ossetia region of Georgia, NATO’s Secretary General issues a statement saying that NATO does not recognize the elections and that the holding of such elections does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia. As a follow-up to the North Atlantic Council’s visit to Georgia, the NGC adopts a set of concrete measures to enhance Georgia’s connectivity with NATO. These measures support reforms, increase the ability of NATO and Georgia to operate together, and strengthen the capacity of the Georgian institutions as the country continues on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
  2012	As a follow-up to the North Atlantic Council’s visit to Georgia, the NGC adopts a set of concrete measures to enhance Georgia’s connectivity with NATO. These measures support reforms, increase the ability of NATO and Georgia to operate together, and strengthen the capacity of the Georgian institutions as the country continues on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
  	In April 2012, President Saakashvili visits NATO Headquarters to meet the Secretary General and attend a meeting of the NGC Ambassadors.
  	In May, Georgia takes part in three important meetings involving partners at the Chicago Summit: President Mikheil Saakashvili joins counterparts from countries that are supporting the NATO-led stabilization mission in Afghanistan. He also attends a meeting of the 28 Allies with 13 countries from Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region that have made exceptional contributions to the Alliance’s agenda in the last few years. And Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze joins fellow foreign ministers from the three other countries that are aspiring to NATO membership.
  	In September, NATO Secretary General visits Georgia.
  	In October, Georgia doubles its contribution to ISAF, making the country one of the largest non-NATO troop contributor nations.
  	In November, the Secretary General meets with President Saakashvili in Prague on the occasion of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and with Prime Minister Ivanishvili at NATO Headquarters.
  	In December, during an NGC meeting of foreign ministers, the Allies encourage all parties in Georgia to keep up the momentum of the recent elections and to consolidate democratic progress; they also thank Georgia for its substantial contribution to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan.

   

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