NATO Chief Says Warsaw Summit will Recognize Georgia’s Progress

At its summit in Warsaw in July the Alliance will recognize progress made by Georgia and reiterate commitment to continue providing practical support to the country, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on May 18.

“I strongly believe that the summit of NATO in July will recognize the progress Georgia is making and will reiterate our strong commitment both to provide strong political support to Georgia, but also to provide practical support to Georgia, working with Georgia to implement reforms, build institutions and to enhance Georgia’s ability to modernize its armed forces,” he said at a news conference on the eve of NATO foreign ministerial meeting when asked about Georgia.

“We will continue to defend Georgia’s right to make its own decisions and we will continue to work on reforms and help Georgia moving towards NATO membership,” he added.

Georgian Defense Minister, Tina Khidasheli, said late last month that NATO summit in Warsaw, planned for July 8-9, will be a success for Georgia if the country receives additional instruments providing for “more self-defense capabilities” and deterrence in the face of existing threats. She said that at NATO-Georgia defense ministerial meeting in Brussels in February Tbilisi tabled a “detailed” plan listing those instruments, which, if they become part of the NATO Warsaw summit declaration and if implemented, will make Georgia more secure.

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