The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier today at NATO headquarters in Brussels. After the meeting parties held a joint press conference. Stoltenberg stressed Georgia is one of NATO’s most important partners, contributing to the alliance’s shared security in many ways, including with troops in NATO’s training mission in Afghanistan.

“We can all be proud of what we do together and you can be proud of your contributions to our shared security and contributions to our missions and operations.

NATO welcomes the progress Georgia is making on reforms. Georgia has already made good progress in modernising its armed forces and in strengthening democracy.

And I encourage you to continue making full use of all the opportunities for coming closer to NATO. And to prepare for membership. We count on Georgia to ensure next month’s elections meet the highest international standards. This is important for Georgia, and for NA.

Earlier this year NATO allies agreed to strengthen the NATO-Georgia partnership even further. The allies agreed to share more air traffic radar data, working jointly to address hybrid threats, as well as doing joint exercises in the Black Sea region.

NATO supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders. We call on Russia to end its recognition of the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to withdraw its forces”, - concluded Stoltenberg.