Opening remarks
by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission at the level of Foreign Affairs Ministers
- English
- French
Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to this meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission. The timing is particularly important, so soon after the inauguration of the new president of Georgia.
We have achieved a lot since the NATO-Georgia Commission was created five years ago. We have come closer to fulfilling the promise of the Bucharest that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance. We have developed a strong partnership, founded on common values, and a robust programme to support Georgia’s reform process.
Over the past years, Georgia has made a remarkable contribution to our common security. You have been among the leading contributors to our mission in Afghanistan. You have pledged financial support for the Afghan forces after 2014. And you have committed to our mission to train, advise and assist them. Georgia has also decided to contribute to the NATO-Response Force in 2015.
You have done a lot at home, too. Impressive defence reforms. And a more mature democracy, after free and fair presidential elections this fall. There is still work to be done, but overall, you have moved much closer to NATO. The Alliance remains committed to supporting you. And we remain firm in our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Today, we will discuss how we can make our partnership stronger.
With that, I would like to conclude the public part of our session, and I thank the representatives of the media for their attendance.