Video-Stream Between Tbilisi and Brussels
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Compiled and edited by the NATO Contact Point Embassy (NATO CPE) in Georgia – 10th Edition, December 2013 – IN THIS EDITION : • N A T O – GEORGIA – NATO-GEORGIA COMMISSION AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS – ALLIED FOREIGN MINISTERS PRAISE GEORGIA’S REFORM EFFORTS – MEETING OF THE STATE COMMISSION OF GEORGIA ON NATO INTEGRATION – MOD’S REPORT ON GEORGIA’S NATO INTEGRATION – MEETING OF THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL ON GEORGIA’S NATO INTEGRATION • P U B L I C D I P L O M A C Y – WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS: “GEORGIA ON THE NATO MEMBERSHIP PATH” – NATO WORKSHOP FOR COMMUNICATION EXPERTS – 1 st SOUTH CAUCASUS SECURITY FORUM HELD IN TBILISI – JAMIE SHEA ’s VIDEO-CONFERENCE WITH GEORGIAN NGO s – STUDENTS OF THE COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE BRIEFED BY MINISTER PETRIASHVILI – CYBER AND INFORMATION SECURITY SEMINAR IN NATO LIAISON OFFICE – MEETING AT AKAKI TSERETELI KUTAISI STATE UNIVERSITY • N A T O H Q – NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANNOUNCED DATES FOR 2014 SUMMIT – 2013: NATO’S YEAR IN REVIEW 1 N A T O – GEORGIA NATO-GEORGIA COMMISSION AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS NATO-Georgia Commission at the level of Foreign Affairs Ministers was held in Brussels on 4 December 2013. In his opening remarks, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed the meeting and stated the following: “The timing is particularly important, so soon after the inauguration of the new president of Georgia. We have achieved a lot since the NATO-Georgia Commission was created five years ago. We have come closer to fulfilling the promise of the Bucharest that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance. We have developed a strong partnership, founded on common values, and a robust programme to support Georgia’s reform process. Over the past years, Georgia has made a remarkable contribution to our common security. You have been among the leading contributors to our mission in Afghanistan. You have pledged financial support for the Afghan forces after 2014. And you have committed to our mission to train, advise and assist them. Georgia has also decided to contribute to the NATO-Response Force in 2015. You have done a lot at home, too. Impressive defense reforms. And a more mature democracy, after free and fair presidential elections this fall. There is still work to be done, but overall, you have moved much closer to NATO. The Alliance remains committed to supporting you. And we remain firm in our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Today, we will discuss how we can make our partnership stronger”. Within the visit, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze met with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen and held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of NATO member and partner states. Date: 4 December 2013 Source: http://www.nato.int/ ALLIED FOREIGN MINISTERS PRAISE GEORGIA’S REFORM EFFORTS NATO Foreign Ministers met with their Georgian counterpart for the first time since the inauguration of Georgia’s new president. They agreed that much has been achieved since the NATO-Georgia Commission was created five years ago. In his statement, Secretary General Rasmussen said “Georgia is a unique and highly valued partner for NATO, and there is a lot that the Georgian people can be proud of. This year’s elections, and the parliamentary elections last year, were free, fair and inclusive. Georgia’s democratic process continues to mature, and in that way, Georgia serves as a model for the wider region.” Georgia has been among the leading contributors to the Alliance’s mission in Afghanistan, and has committed to contribute to the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces after 2014. “Georgian soldiers are serving their country and protecting our shared values in Afghanistan, side by side with Allied troops. And Georgia has offered to contribute 2 to the NATO Response Force in order to keep our troops connected for the future. In the five years since we created the NATO-Georgia Commission, Georgia has moved closer to NATO, and together, we have made Georgia and the wider region a safer place”, the Secretary General said. Ministers encouraged the new government to continue to strengthen democracy and noted that cooperation between government and opposition will remain essential to carry on reforms. “We recognize Georgia’s achievements in making its democracy stronger, its judiciary more independent, and its defense and security sectors more transparent and accountable. We also look to the Georgian authorities to uphold the rule of law for all citizens and to avoid even the perception of selective justice,” the Secretary General said. Ministers welcomed Georgia’s continued and patient commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and reaffirmed support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders. They also expressed strong concern about the resumption of activities to erect fences and other obstacles along the administrative border lines within Georgia. Ministers called for their removal, as they affect the lives of people and hamper conflict resolution. “Georgia’s ambitious reform agenda has an ambitious goal: integration into the Euro- Atlantic family, where Georgia naturally belongs,” the Secretary General said. “So I am confident that that the new government will bring a new energy and a new momentum to our cooperation. We stand firm by our decisions at the Bucharest Summit and will continue to support the Georgian people in fulfilling their aspiration for NATO membership,” he added. Source: http://www.nato.int/ Date: 4 December 2013 MEETING OF THE STATE COMMISSION OF GEORGIA ON NATO INTEGRATION On December 23, 2013, a meeting session of the State Commission of Georgia on NATO Integration was held at the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia. The meeting was led by Irakli Gharibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia and Chairperson of the State Commission of Georgia on NATO Integration. On the agenda of the Commission were: NATO Assessment Document for 2013 year and the draft of the Annual National Program for 2014. Georgian ANP priorities and preparation works for 2014 year were also defined with a view to reaching Georgia's goals at the upcoming NATO Summit in the United Kingdom. As State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili pointed out during the discussion on the NATO Assessment Document, 2013 the Annual National Program implemented by the Georgian Government had been assessed by NATO as the best performance in the past five years. It was announced that in the first Semester of 2014 Prime Minister of Georgia will pay an official visit to NATO HQ. Source: http://eu-nato.gov.ge/index.php?que=eng/news&info=872 Date: 27 Dec.2013 3 MOD’S REPORT ON GEORGIA’S NATO INTEGRATION On 28 December, Deputy Defence Minister M.Darchiashvili summed up NATO-Georgia cooperation during 2013 with MPs. Permanent Representative of Georgia to NATO L.Dolidze focused on Georgia’s aspiration to North-Atlantic Alliance at the meeting with the members of Defence and Security Committee. Deputy State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro- Atlantic Integration, D.Dondua and Director of Security Policy and Euro-Atlantic Integration Department of MFA, G.Dolidze delivered information to the MPs on Georgia’s progress achieved to NATO integration path and the future plans. While reviewing Georgia’s NATO membership, the progress achieved in Georgian Armed Forces was paid a special attention that is underlined in NATO Annual Assessment. Future plans of cooperation with NATO were the topics of the discussion as well. “We spoke Georgia’s path to NATO 2014 Summit. Georgian MPs’ engagement in this process is very essential. I’d like to extend my gratitude to our deputies for expressing attention and interest towards the process ongoing in the MoD. Parliamentary oversight is one of the important components of democracy development. We achieve effective progress in this direction” – outlined Mikheil Darchiashvili. Chairman of Defence and Security Committee Irakli Sesiashvili positively assessed cooperation between Defence Ministry and NATO. As he stated, Georgia has positive expectations at NATO 2014 Summit. Chief of General Staff of GAF, Major-General V. Kapanadze and Deputy Defence Minister I.Gegechkori also attended the meeting on NATO issues with the members of Defence and Security Committee held in General Staff HQ. Source: http://mod.gov.ge/?newsid=2586&lang=en#sthash.Z1td0apI.dpuf Date: 28 Dec. 2013 MEETING OF THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL ON GEORGIA’S NATO INTEGRATION On December 20, 2013, the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili conducted a meeting with Public Advisory Council on Georgia’s NATO Integration. The State Minister informed the members of the Public Advisory Council on the outcomes of the work performed by the Office of the State Minister in the direction of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Alex Petriashvili particularly emphasized the NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) meeting held on November 27, 2012 at the level of Ambassadors and a meeting with the Secretary General of North Atlantic Alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, where the Annual National Program (ANP) of Georgia was highly assessed. Significant issues of Georgia’s NATO integration, as well as important aspects of the preparation for the 2014 NATO summit were also touched upon. The State Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation with the representatives of the civil society and their engagement in the process of raising public awareness. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Public Advisory Council on Georgia’s NATO Integration was established in 2005. Representatives of non-governmental organizations, academia and independent experts participate in the working process of the council. With an objective to have an active dialogue with society the meetings of the council are held periodically on the ongoing and key issues of Georgia’s NATO integration.