7 Apr. 2004

President of Georgia visits NATO News 06/04/2004 - NATO Visit to NATO by H.E. Mr. Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia Multimedia High resolution photos Audio file of the press point (.MP3/2921Kb) Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili addressed the North Atlantic Council and met for talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer during a one-day visit to NATO HQ, 7 April. President Saakashvili presented Georgia’s individual partnership action plan. The plan establishes specific defence reform goals that NATO will assist Georgia in implementing. The NATO Secretary General and President Saakashvili also discussed the current situation in Georgia as well as regional issues of mutual concern. One of the issues discussed was the withdrawal of Russian military personnel from Georgia, in line with the 1999 Istanbul agreement on the adaptation of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. Speaking to reporters following their meeting, Mr. de Hoop Scheffer said NATO supports the full implementation of the Istanbul agreement and hoped that negotiations between Georgia and the Russian Federation on the withdrawal would start as soon as possible. This was the first visit by President Saakashvili to NATO Headquarters. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili and Defence Minister Gela Bejuashvili.