“Georgia’s commitment to the principles of the Washington Treaty, ability and experience to defend our shared values, and immense contribution to the Euro-Atlantic security qualifies our country for membership,” said Irakli Beraia, Defense and Security Committee Chair, at the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) in Copenhagen.

Beraia reminded that the decision on Georgia’s membership was made in Bucharest in 2008 and stressed the significance that the allies demonstrated “geopolitical courage and fully acknowledge” to enforce the decision.

Defense and Security Committee Chair also thanked Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General, for his support of Georgia.

“Let me thank you, first of all, for your personal role in supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and being vocal on our country. I also want to stress our full support to the people and the State of Israel in their fight against terrorism. As you all know, NATO membership is a civilizational choice of our people as well as constitutionally cemented top foreign policy and national security priority of our country. Georgia’s commitment to the principles of the Washington Treaty, ability and experience to defend our shared values, and immense contribution to the Euro-Atlantic security qualifies our country for membership.

The decision on Georgia’s membership was made in Bucharest in 2008, and it’s very important that allies demonstrate geopolitical courage and fully acknowledge the necessity of enforcing that decision. Georgia’s membership issue must remain among the top priorities on the Allies’ agenda. But before membership is achieved, and at the same time, it’s crucially important to step up practical support to frontline democracies and long-time tested aspirants like Georgia to further strengthen its defence and resilience, importantly in the context of enhancing Black Sea security, which is indispensable, as you all know, for Euro-Atlantic security. My question is, given the rapidly deteriorating security environment, what is NATO’s vision on enhancing existing practical cooperation tools with aspirants and on the further steps to strengthen Black Sea security?” he said.

Georgian parliamentary delegation, headed by the Defense and Security Committee Chair Irakli Beraia, participates in the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 7-9.