Tbilisi. October 8th. INTERFAX - NATO and Georgia are bound by a unique partnership, which has been further strengthened over time, Admiral Robert Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, who is in Tbilisi on a visit, said on Friday after a meeting with Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze.
Bauer's statement was distributed by the press service of the Georgian Defense Ministry.
According to him, the fourth visit of members of the NATO Military Committee to Georgia once again confirms the firm support of the North Atlantic Alliance for Georgia.
"Despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, we have maintained a serious level of political and military cooperation," he said.
"Last week, five ships of the second permanent Mine Action Group of NATO (SNMCMG2) visited the port of Batumi. In order to increase compatibility between NATO and Georgia, joint exercises were held with units of the Georgian Coast Guard. This further strengthens the existing partnership between the alliance and Georgia. Our partnership has always been mutually beneficial. For almost three decades, NATO's relations with Georgia have always justified the goal," Bauer said, also noting Georgia's contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where, according to him, 32 Georgian servicemen died during their participation in the mission.
"Georgia has never turned back, expressed firm support for the alliance despite the fact that it has seen and continues to see the challenges facing it. The most serious challenge for Georgia is the threat coming from Russia," Bauer said.
Speaking about the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he stressed that NATO's position is clear - "Russia should withdraw the decision to recognize the independence of these regions and withdraw its troops from there."
"NATO will continue to support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the head of the NATO Military Committee said.
In turn, the Georgian Defense Minister said after the meeting that cooperation with NATO has "unprecedented, irreversible dynamics, which is confirmed by firm political and practical support in the process of preparing Georgia's accession to the alliance."
According to Burchuladze, Georgia, as a reliable partner and future member of NATO, is ready to continue contributing to international security.
According to the press service, at the meeting the parties discussed issues of cooperation, including the policy of strengthening the security of the Black Sea.
