Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgia will become a full member of the South-Eastern Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM), Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said ​​at a meeting with the defense ministers of the countries of South-Eastern Europe in Slovenia on October 3.

From now on Georgia will participate in the initiative of Defense Ministers of South-Eastern Europe not only as an observer, but as a full member of the Ministerial Council, he said.

He also noted that appropriate procedures will last about a year and Georgia will become a member of the organization the next year, what is another important format of regional security.

"I am confident that this is a big step towards the country's integration into the NATO," Alasania said.

Georgia participates in the SEDM as an observer since 2006.

The South-Eastern Europe Defense Ministerial was established on October 3, 1997 during the meeting of regional ministers in Sofia under the initiative of the United States. Main objective of the SEDM is strengthening understanding and politico-military cooperation in the region to enhance the stability and security. The SEDM's ministers gather regularly to discuss issues of security and cooperation in the region.