The ruling party and opposition issue a joint statement urging NATO to continue close cooperation with Georgia
By Veronika Malinboym
Wednesday, June 9
“We call on NATO and its member states to continue to work closely with Georgia as the country prepares to pursue ambitious reforms aimed at consolidating democracy, jointly agreed upon by parliamentary political parties, as well as to provide stronger assistance and share the experience in the fight against growing and hybrid threats,” the joint statement reads.
Both the opposition and the ruling party MPs have also thanked NATO for its “substantial political and practical support” and reinstated that for Georgia, NATO membership is “a fundamental national security concern of Georgia and is based on undisputed, broad political and public support”:
“We underscore the importance of political decision-making in bringing Georgia closer to membership in the Alliance. The accession of Georgia and other Eastern European countries to NATO will strengthen the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area, stop potential aggressors and bring us closer to a ‘united, free and peaceful Europe’.
The statement also called for a deeper cooperation in the security of the Black Sea:
“We emphasize the importance of deepening cooperation for Black Sea security. The security environment in the wider Black Sea region has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Russia's actions threaten regional security and the democracies of the region. Given the current situation, NATO involvement in the Black Sea region, as an important deterrent and stabilizing factor, is gaining much more importance than before.”
Finally, in their joint statement, opposition and ruling party MPs have expressed Georgia’s “common commitment to a stronger NATO that works to protect freedom-loving nations, including Georgia, in peace, democracy, and prosperity.”