Opening remarks
by NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia at the meeting with the NATO Permanent Representatives
(as delivered)
Madame La Présidente,
Merci pour votre accueil chaleureux.
Nous avons eu le plaisir de vous accueillir en janvier à l’OTAN, juste après votre inauguration.
Et nous sommes ravis d’être auprès de vous ici à Batumi.
NATO and Georgia are unique and long-standing partners.
Our cooperation has increased substantially in recent years.
This year, we celebrate five years of the Substantial NATO-Georgia package, which we have just agreed to refresh and update.
Earlier this year, 350 personnel from 24 NATO Allies and partners exercised together here in Georgia.
And in April, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed a package of measures to enhance Black Sea security.
Georgia, in turn, has proven its ability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security.
You are one of the largest contributors to our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
You participate in the NATO Response Force.
And you have committed to spending 2% of GDP on defense.
The NATO-Georgia partnership includes practical and political tools to support Georgia’s ongoing reforms, and to help prepare Georgia’s membership in the Euro-Atlantic community when the moment is right.
Madame La Présidente, je vous donne la parole, svp.
(THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS).
Merci beaucoup.
This concludes the public part of this meeting.
I thank the media for being here.