Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili held his first meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen today. Ivanishvili and Rasmussen held a joint briefing after the meeting reporting its details. Bidzina Ivanishvili said the meeting was very interesting as they discussed Georgia-NATO relationships, prospects of the country`s integration into the alliance, Georgia`s commitments to NATO-led peace mission in Afghanistan and the political situation in Georgia.
`The fact that you have chosen to make Brussels the destination of your first official visit shows the importance you attach to our relationship. And the PM and I have had a very positive and constructive meeting this morning. Georgia is a close and committed partner for NATO. you recently doubled your contribution to our mission in Afghanistan , you`ve already joint the planning process for the NATO led mission to train advice and assist the Afghan forces after 2014, you aspire to join our alliance and prime minister I welcome your confirmation that our government is committed to that aspiration. I can assure you that NATO is committed to close relations with Georgia. Our cooperation is strong and our dialogue on the highest level. My meetings this week with you and with president Saakashvili are prove of that and I look forward to a meeting of foreign minister in the NATO -Georgia commission less than a month from now,` Secretary General announced and hailed parliamentary elections of October 1. He called on all parties in Georgia to work constructively.
Bidzina Ivanishvili said the meeting was very constructive and very interesting. He said the Georgia parliamentary elections were assessed as a test of democracy, which Georgia had passed successfully.
`We had a very interesting meeting, where it was outlined that with October elections Georgia passed a very important test of democracy and sent a very interesting signal to international community and the NATO member states. Therefore, we were promised by Mr. Rasmussen that this fact would be emphasized at the next summit of foreign minister in December, where our representatives will be also present,` Ivanishvili said.
Georgian Prime Minister expressed his regret for the postponement of the NATO military committee visit to Georgia; however, he said the Secretary General promised that this meeting would take place by all means.
`At the same time, I invited North Atlantic Council members to Georgia, which will be yet another step forward in the process of integration,` Ivanishvili said.
PM also defined that the Secretary General considered it not necessary to form a special team of observers, who would monitor situation in Georgian army. The idea was voiced by Prime Minister before his departure to Brussels; however, Secretary General declared trust to Georgia`s new government, saying there was no need of NATO monitoring.
