Netherlands to support Georgia in implementing NATO conditions
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, August 29
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has made a solution to support Georgia in implementing several projects within the Substantial North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-Georgia Package (SNGP).
Along with providing assistance to Georgia in terms of the SNGP, the Dutch Embassy also promised that the country will also allocate finances for Georgia’s future Defence Institution Building School.
The information came after Thursday’s meeting of the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia, Johannes Douma, with Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The SNGP is a set of measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities and developing closer security cooperation and interoperability with NATO members.
The Package was adopted during the NATO Wales Summit in 2014.
The SNGP includes support of 13 different areas of defence and security related sectors.
It involves strategic level advice and liaison, defence capacity building and training activities, multi-national exercises and enhanced interoperability opportunities.
Last year, France also decided to send experts to Georgia to support and guide the country as it develops its air defence capabilities.
The solution was assessed as "very significant decision” from the Government of Georgia as France was not among the 15 nations instructed to support Georgia implement the Substantial Package.
During the July 8-9 NATO Warsaw Summit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said “30 NATO experts are currently in Georgia helping the country’s ongoing defence reforms, with more contributions to come.”
