Allies and Georgia address defence reform
Allied Defence Ministers discussed today with their Georgian counterpart Minister Sikharulidze, Georgia's progress in defence reform and its priorities for 2009.
In the second day of an informal meeting in Cracow, the NATO Georgia Commission reviewed the current situation in the country, the defence and security cooperation and the assistance for Georgia's reform effort provided within the framework of this body.
The talks took place in the context of the reaffirmation by NATO Foreign Ministers in December of the process set in train at Bucharest and their decision to develop an Annual National Programme to help advance Georgia's reforms.
Ministers also discussed the aftermath of the conflict last August, including Alliance assistance to Georgia in its recovery efforts and the issue of Russian bases on Georgian territory.