The Defense and Security Committee heard the Head of the NATO Liaison Office, Rosaria Puglisi on the NATO-Georgia partnership.

The Chair of the Committee, Irakli Beraia welcomed NATO Liaison Office representatives and dwelt on the importance of the NATO-Georgia partnership.

“Today, our Committee holds the important meeting on NATO-Georgia partnership where our partners from NATO will speak as the rapporteurs. It is the first case when the NATO representatives will introduce information to the Georgian MPs within the Committee hearing about the NATO-Georgia partnership and EU and NATO integration progress. NATO integration is the key priority of the security and the foreign policy of Georgia and the value-based choice of our population. Georgia is a NATO aspirant state and one of the most dignified partners in terms of interoperability. Georgia has never been so close to NATO as today and it is evidenced by the practical and political aspects of our cooperation. All NATO Summits confirm the decision made at NATO Bucharest Summit in 2008 that Georgia shall access NATO. It is noteworthy that the Summits and Ministerials always end up with the strong support to Georgia, which is based on the political will and the decision of the NATO allies”, - I. Beraia stated.

Prior to the introduction of official information on the NATO-Georgia partnership, Mme. Puglisi delivered her welcome remarks and made the statement about the directions of further cooperation.

“The Parliament is a significant actor in NATO-Georgia partnership process and we give a positive assessment to your activity. We have done so much together and now, we enjoy the opportunity to keep this course. Georgia is the closest partner to NATO, connected by the unique and strong political cooperation, including in the missions in Afghanistan. NATO strongly supports the EU and NATO aspirations of Georgia and the routine of our Office is the part of this support to become stronger and prepared for the NATO membership. Georgia will become the NATO member as it was declared at the Bucharest Summit and Georgia possess all practical mechanisms for it. We encourage this country to apply these mechanisms for its own benefit. We feel that every step and progress taken and achieved on the way of reform consolidation lead to the membership”, - she stated. After the report, the Committee resumed in camera.