2024-03-18
Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia:
"Secretary-General, let me greet and welcome you! I also greet media representatives gathered here today.
Dear Secretary-General, it is my great honor to host you in Georgia and I want to thank you personally for your support towards our country, our Euro-Atlantic aspirations, Your 10-year tenure in the capacity of a NATO Secretary-General coincided with unprecedented challenges and calamities. Nevertheless, with your leadership, a lot of challenges have been overcome and NATO thus remains as a main guarantor of Euro-Atlantic security.
I am thrilled that we once again discussed the NATO-Georgia cooperation topics and our integration process. I wish to use this opportunity and express special gratitude to NATO and personally to the Secretary-General for the support demonstrated towards the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
Also, we highly value the timely and fair statements regarding the development of events within the occupied territories of Georgia. We are one of the most loyal and reliable partners of NATO, which I wish to highlight again. For over years, Georgia has been actively participating in the operations held under the aegis of NATO, thus making its significant contribution to the solidification of an overall Euro-Atlantic security.
In its part, NATO has been playing a pivotal role in the development of defense capabilities of Georgia.
Europe is currently facing challenging and turbulent times. Rules-based international order is being fundamentally altered. Wholesome, free and peaceful Europe as an idea is being threatened. In the given complexities it is essential that the international community demonstrates unanimity and firm dedication towards the principles of international law.
Dear Secretary-General, once again let me express gratitude for your visit to Georgia as it is yet another evidence of a very strong support from your side and let me wish you every success in your endeavors! Thank you ever so much!"
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General:
"Thank you so much, Prime Minister Kobakhidze, dear Irakli, It is great to see you again.
It's great to be back in Baku and it's great to be here, not least because that reflects how much we value the partnership between Georgia and NATO.
And I also welcome the fact that you just a few weeks ago visited Brussels, now I'm here and it demonstrates also that we have an active political dialogue as part of our partnership.
Georgia is one of NATO's closest partners.
We highly appreciate your substantial contributions to NATO missions and operations.
And we fully support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia. NATO continues to call on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories as independent states.
Russia's organization of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. And Russia's presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair.
Georgia is facing complex security challenges. Russia persists its pursuit of imperial ambitions. And in Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield remains difficult. So it is vital that we continue to step up our support. NATO Allies provide 99 percent of all military aid to Ukraine. And our partners also play a key role. I welcome that Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. At the same time, we can and must do more to stop Russia's cycle of aggression.
At our meeting, we also addressed security in the Black Sea, which matters for both Georgia and for NATO.
Russia's war put freedom of navigation in the Black Sea at risk and threatened global food supplies.
But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian success have allowed them to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security. NATO's partnership with Georgia is already strong. And today we discussed how to develop it even further.
In January, we agreed to a new Individually Tailored Partnership Programme to deepen the partnership between Georgia and NATO. And I welcome the progress made in areas like crisis management, cyber security, and military engineering.
Just a few days ago, a Turkish navy frigate visited Batumi as part of NATO's training for the Georgian Coast Guard. And this is one example of how we do practical things together, to help you strengthen your naval capabilities which is important for Georgia, it's important for the Black Sea and it's important for NATO.
NATO stands by your side as you continue your path towards stronger democracy and full Euro-Atlantic integration. Including the 2008 Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of the NATO Alliance.
Candidate status granted by the European Union is a major opportunity to enhance your stability and prosperity. And what you do to move towards EU membership goes hand in hand with efforts to become a full NATO Ally.
It is important that Georgia continues to strengthen domestic reforms, democratic values and the rule of law. Including through free and fair parliamentary elections in October this year.
So Prime Minister, Thank you again for your hospitality. And thank you for your personal commitment to the NATO-Georgia partnership.
Thank you!"