Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgian's integration into North alliance was the focus of talks between Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili rand NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai held in Tbilisi on June 3.

Appathurai, who is on visit to Tbilisi to attend NATO week, said that NATO supports Georgia's territorial integrity, and appreciates its contribution to international security.

The sides also mulled the upcoming visit of the North Atlantic Council's head to Georgia. The meeting noted that this visit will be a good opportunity for the Council's members to get acquainted with the current processes in the country.

On the same day, Georgian Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili received Appathurai, who is on visit to Tbilisi to attend the NATO week in Georgia.

Usupashvili told reporters that the post-election situation in Georgia discussed at the meeting.

According to Usupashvili, the parties discussed what to do to next year in terms of the Georgia's integration into the alliance to be successful.

"The upcoming presidential elections, the outcome of the Vilnius summit, also continuation of cohabitation and normal completion of the presidential election were of great importance here. So it was a business conversation and friendly dialogue.

"It was our first meeting after the election, so we discussed the post-election period. You know that in two or three weeks in Georgia scheduled a very important event. Now NATO week runs, at the end of the month are also waiting for a high-ranking guests of NATO headquarters and member states," Usupashvili said.

Different events are planned for the NATO week in Georgia. Meetings are planned with students and local non-government organizations, while events will be held in different regions all over the country.

The week will end on June 10 with a NATO youth summit.

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 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 as a significant contributor to Euro-Atlantic security is closely involved in NATO-led operations and its contribution to the 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.