Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Georgia has presented its Annual National Program 2015 to NATO member-states and the bloc's allies in a special meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Georgia’s First Deputy State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Archil Karaulashvili presented the document at the NATO-Georgia Commission meeting at the level of deputy ambassadors.

The ANP is a special document that reflects Georgia's short-term to medium-term strategy, covering various issues ranging from military reforms to foreign and security policies and economic developments. It is considered as a NATO integration instrument, which reflects all necessary reforms that assist in bringing Georgia closer to NATO standards.

Georgia’s ANP reform plan satisfied the 28 member-states of NATO, which positively assessed the document and noted that it is "comprehensive and realistic".

The importance of Georgia's successful implementation of a variety of reforms was underscored alongside the praises for progress already made by Georgia. The allies also agreed upon the preliminary agenda of the NATO-Georgia Commission for the year 2015.

Karaulashvili met with NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, James Appathurai to discuss the current security challenges in the region and Georgia’s further steps toward NATO integration.

In a special statement, Georgia’s Ministry of European and Euro-Atlantic integration said the NATO allies expressed their gratitude for Georgia's significant contribution to the NATO peace operations and for its "firm readiness to engage in ensuring global security".

"Representatives of the NATO member states reconfirmed their support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their unwavering support to the non-recognition policy towards the occupied regions," the ministry noted.

Furthermore, the NATO allies expressed their concern about the "aggressive actions of Russia against Georgia" slamming the signing of so-called agreements with occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions as a "rude violation of international law".

Meanwhile, the Georgian authorities have rolled their sleeves up to host a joint military drills with the NATO Rapid Reaction Force for the first time.

The U.S.-Georgia joint exercises, titled "Noble Partner", will be carried out on the territory of Vaziani military air field and military firing-ground near Tbilisi on May 11-25.

U.S. Brigadier General, John Hort has already visited Georgia to coordinate all final details of the Georgian-American joint exercise. This will be the first such drills are to be conducted in Georgia.

The goal of the Nobel Partner drills will serve to the convergence of the Georgian military with the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, as well as serve as a platform for participating in future operations and drills of NATO.

Building solid relations with NATO is of great significance for Georgia, as the aspirant country ambitions to become a member of the military bloc. The country's rulers claim that the country' strong aspiration to join NATO is essentially motivated by a desire to end its long-lasting dispute with Russia, and not gain a major ally to further stand against the northern giant's policy in the region.

NATO, in turn, attaches a special interest in Georgia, viewing the country as one of its future members. Regular mutual visits at top official level serve NATO's interests to ensure sustainable support to Georgia and help the country develop its military infrastructure and skills.

However, Russia's official approach towards the Georgia-NATO approximation is quite negative as it views the military bloc's active involvement in the regional issues as a serious threat to regional stability.

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