Tbilisi. February 16. INTERFAX - Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, who is in Brussels on a visit, met with the chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Robert Bauer on Wednesday, the press service of the Georgian Defense Ministry reports.
Burchuladze is in Brussels as part of a meeting of NATO defense ministers scheduled for Thursday, to which he was invited together with his Ukrainian counterpart Alexei Reznikov.
According to the press service, the Minister thanked Bauer for supporting Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and on the path of Georgia's integration into NATO.
The press service notes that the minister noted at the meeting that "against the background of Russia's growing military aggression in the region," the firm position of NATO and compliance with the principle of "open doors" of the alliance is important.
It is reported that at a meeting with Admiral Bauer Burchuladze spoke about the process of defense transformation, strengthening Georgia's defense capabilities with active cooperation with NATO and strategic partners, as well as creating defense forces compatible with the alliance.
According to the report, at the meeting the parties also discussed the planned NATO-Georgia joint exercises in March this year, which Georgia will host for the third time.
"Also during the conversation, attention was drawn to Georgia's participation in strategic discussions on the Black Sea and Georgia's significant contribution to international missions," the press service said.
