Georgian Prime Minister: Georgia is ready to join NATO
The Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia said that the country does not need the Action Plan for NATO membership, but it needs the membership itself. Georgia has fulfilled all of the prerequisites for its admission to NATO.
This was stated by Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia during his speech at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Spring Session, Georgia Online reports.
“With the fidelity of integration into NATO and the common Euro-Atlantic security, Georgia has already created a prerequisite for NATO to take the next steps for our country's accession to the Alliance,” Kvirikashvili said.
The Prime Minister proudly pointed out that Georgia is a good example of a European state that, despite all internal and external challenges, consistently continues moving along the path of democratization, the revival of institutions, economic development, and institutional integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
“We are well aware of the challenges that confront us. Occupation and militarization by Russia of 20% of Georgia, a sovereign state, creates a significant threat to our national security,” Kvirikashvili stressed.
In addition, Kvirikashvili noted that the occupation of the Crimea, followed by destabilization in the east of Ukraine and the redistribution of influence spheres is aimed at destroying the tremendous progress achieved in building a united, free and peaceful Europe as a huge achievement of the Euro-Atlantic society.
“Our response to this challenge is more democratization, more economic development, and European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The only effective response of the West to these challenges should be greater unity and firmness in the matter of protecting freedom and other fundamental values, an open door policy and clear support for the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of European countries,” Kvirikashvili said.
Earlier, Mikheil Janelidze, the Head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia said that the country does not need an Action Plan for the membership in NATO, but it needs just the membership in the Alliance.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Spring Session began in Tbilisi last Friday, May 26.