Jens Stoltenberg’s visit gives yet another powerful impetus to Georgia’s integration with NATO – David Zalkaliani

24.03.2019, Tbilisi - “Georgia’s being so high on the NATO agenda highlights how important Georgia is to NATO” – Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani told journalists at the airport where an official welcoming ceremony was organized for the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

 
Speaking about NATO-Georgia relations, Zalkaliani said that being held immediately prior to the NATO Ministerial Meeting Jens Stoltenberg’s visit takes on a particular importance. According to Zalkaliani, “next week will be eventful in terms of Georgia-NATO relations. NATO Military Committee will pay a visit to Georgia and I will have a meeting within the framework of the NATO-Georgia Commission in Brussels that will deal with Black Sea security-related issues”.
 
The Minister said that Jens Stoltenberg’s visit also coincides with NATO military exercises, in which an unprecedented number of NATO partners and members take part.
According to Zalkaliani Georgia has all practical instruments for integration with NATO and Georgia is recognized as a leader in terms of implementing these instruments.
 
The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Georgia on 24 March. At the Tbilisi International Airport he was met by Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Georgia’s Representative to NATO Aleksandre Maisuradze, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, Rosaria Puglisi, Poland’s Ambassador to Georgia Mariusz Maszkiewicz.
 
Within the framework of the visit, the NATO Secretary General will hold meetings with the Prime Minister of Georgia, President, Chairman and members of the Parliament.
 
Jens Stoltenberg will also visit the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) and will attend the joint exercises organized by the Centre.