Bakradze meets the NATO Secretary General
Thursday, June 30
Within the visit of the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, David Bakradze to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the sitting of the NATO-Georgia Commission was held on the level of Ambassadors.
The sitting of the NATO-Georgia Commission was chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The representatives of the Georgian delegation were the Chairman of the Parliament, David Bakradze and the representative of Georgia to NATO, Grigol Mgaloblishvili.
The Chairman of the Parliament, David Bakradze provided the allies with detailed information about the ongoing constitutional reform in Georgia and the processes concerning alteration of the electoral environment. He also spoke about the positive steps towards freedom of media in the country. David Bakradze emphasized the irreversible process of integration of Georgia to NATO and overviewed in details the plan of the Government of Georgia in regards with the occupied territories.
The allies expressed complete support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. They underlined that the position of NATO in these terms is certain.
The allies thanked the Georgian side for its contribution to the ISAF operation. They spoke about the scheduled visit of the NATO Council in Tbilisi in the autumn.
During the bilateral meeting, the Secretary General once more expressed support from NATO to Georgia in regards with the ongoing reforms and underlined that the NATO policy concerning the prospects of implementation of the Bucharest decision remain unchanged.
"Once again we heard the expression of support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia from the Secretary General, so from all member countries. And that NATO continues non-recognition policy and will be active in this policy. We also heard that NATO will always raise the Georgian issue in terms of Russia in Sochi in the nearest future, where the sitting of the NATO-Russia Council is scheduled. At the sitting, by the NATO, as from the Secretary General, so from the member countries, the issues of Georgia and necessity of accomplishment of occupation will be raised”, - the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia stated after the meeting.
David Bakradze awarded the Ambassador of Lithuania to NATO, Linas Linkevichus with the Presidential Order of Excellence and thanked them for the support, which Lithuania and Linas Linkevichus himself expresses to Georgia.
"I would like to thank the President and the Chairman of the Parliament for this award. This day is a symbol of our friendship. Georgia is a particular partner of NATO and the future member of the alliance. Georgia is a significant ally for Lithuania. Over the years we have close cooperation and I am proud that these relations are priority for me and my country. Thank you for allowing me to contribute my might in our common purposes, which is accession of Georgia to the alliance”, - Linas Linkevichus stated.