Public opening remarks

by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the NATO-Georgia Commission at the level of Defence Ministers

  • 04 Jun. 2014
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  • Last updated: 04 Jun. 2014 09:21

Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We continue high level dialogue with Georgia in the context of continued serious challenges for our security. The crisis caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has repercussions for Georgia, its region, and Euro-Atlantic security.  NATO Allies do not, and will not, recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.  And neither do we accept Russia’s recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states. NATO stands up for the right of every nation to make its sovereign choice on foreign and security policy.

 Today, we will continue our active dialogue with Georgia. There has been good progress, especially in making the defence and security sectors more transparent and accountable. We look forward to further implementation of reforms and we will continue to assist you in this process.

Let me make clear that we stand by the decision we made at our Bucharest Summit in 2008.  Georgia will be a member of NATO, provided that it fulfils the requirements of membership. Alliance Foreign Ministers will discuss Georgia’s aspirations at our meeting later this month.  And I am confident that our next Summit will recognize Georgia’s progress.

With that, I would like to conclude the public part of our session. I would like to thank the representatives of the media for their attendance.