Georgia continues on path to NATO membership

Georgia has progressed “steadily” towards NATO membership and has made “remarkable progress,” but there is “still plenty of work to be done,” said NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, Alexander Vershbow while visiting Georgia.

“Any country that hopes to become a member of NATO must be fully committed to those same values and principles. NATO Allies have been pleased to see a very positive dynamic in Georgia’s democratic development. Building strong democratic institutions is a vital part of this development,” Vershbow said at the Georgia Defense and Security Conference in Black Sea resort of Batumi on June 29.

“But there more things that need to be done,” said NATO’s Deputy Secretary General and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense. “In particular, it is essential that there be an open and transparent political process, and a level playing field for all players, with equal access to the media, and clear rules of the road applied consistently to all.”

“This will be one of the keys to Georgia’s success in realizing its membership aspirations. And so we expect the parliamentary elections this year, and the Presidential elections next year, to be free, fair and inclusive,” Vershbow added.

He also emphasized how Georgia’s contribution to the NATO-led Afghan operation, as well as its participation in major meetings on the sideline of the NATO Chicago Summit this year was a “powerful demonstration of just how deep this country’s partnership with the Alliance has become.”

“And it was also a clear demonstration of how Georgia has successfully transformed itself from being a security consumer to being a valuable security provider, as it advances steadily toward its declared goal of NATO membership,” Vershbow remarked.

Vershbow reiterated NATO’s open door policy, noting that Georgia “is one of NATO’s strongest security partners, which “is well on its way to becoming a member of our Alliance."

During his visit to Georgia on June 28-29, the NATO Deputy Secretary General held meetings with Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia; now former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili; Secretary of National Security Council Giga Bokeria; State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Giorgi Baramidze and Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze, as well as representatives of several opposition parties.