Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The ongoing democratic reforms in Georgia were presented at a panel discussion on Euro-Atlantic integration held within the Brussels Forum on Sunday, according to the Georgian Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania familiarized the participants with the reforms and Georgia's contribution to the NATO-led international mission in Afghanistan, as well as about the normalization of its relations with Russia, which have been strained since a brief war in 2008.

Speaking at the event, NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow spoke about the NATO enlargement prospects. According to him, the decision made at the Bucharest summit regarding Georgia's future NATO membership remains in force.

"Georgia has a unique status. In Bucharest it got a very clear message that it will be a member of the alliance one day," he added.

Vershbow highlighted the reforms implemented in Georgia after the October 2012 parliamentary elections. He also referred to the ongoing changes in Georgia following the elections and spoke about the challenges of cohabitation between the current Georgian government and the opposition.

"Georgia now becomes the largest non-NATO troop contributor to our operations in Afghanistan and has suffered a lot of casualties as part of that very important contribution. The country is taking a responsible stance in recent years toward regional stability with the non-use of force," Vershbow stated.

Accession to NATO is one of the top foreign policy priorities of Georgia. Soon after the declaration of independence, Georgia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Georgia's practical bilateral relations with NATO were established in 1994 when the country joined the Partnership for Peace program (PfP). At the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in 2006 it was decided to launch Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues with the South Caucasus republic.

Georgia actively participates in regular joint military exercises and command staff trainings, as well as in international seminars and conferences on current security challenges held by the alliance and partner countries within the PfP program.

In 2002 at the NATO summit in Prague, Georgia officially declared its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, thereby launching its NATO integration process.

Georgia as a significant contributor to Euro-Atlantic security is actively involved in NATO-led operations and its contribution to NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan is of significant importance. Nowadays, Georgia is the second largest troop contributor to Afghanistan among the non-NATO states.