7 April 2010 - Inaugural meeting of the Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council held in Tbilisi

NATO PA Vice-President Assen Agov (Bulgaria) recalled that the Assembly decided to create the GNIC in November 2008 as a parliamentary counterpart to the NATO-Georgia Commission and a clear demonstration of solidarity with Georgia in the aftermath of the August conflict. The NATO PA worked closely with the Georgian delegation to develop a framework for comprehensive cooperation. Mr Agov stressed that the GNIC provides a dynamic, flexible arrangement involving the Assembly’s leadership and the Georgian delegation to the NATO PA and which will provide guidance and continuity for an ongoing Assembly programme of activities focusing on Georgia.

The creation of the GNIC followed a series of statements and measures adopted by the NATO PA in the immediate aftermath of the August 2008 conflict, Mr Agov noted. The Assembly’s then-President, José Lello (Portugal ), visited Tbilisi and conflict-affected areas as early as September 2008. The Assembly also adopted a plenary declaration at its Annual Session in Valencia, Spain, in November 2008, affirming the Assembly’s support for Georgia ’s territorial integrity, calling for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and reiterating support for Georgia ’s process of NATO integration.

Mr Agov concluded that the GNIC provides an important tool to take the already intensive cooperation between the NATO PA and Georgia to the next level and assist Georgia on the path to full membership in the Alliance.

Giorgi Kandelaki, leader of the Georgian delegation to the NATO PA also called the GNIC “an important platform for communication with the NATO PA” and “a tool to inform NATO parliamentarians about the ongoing challenges Georgia faces”. He welcomed constructive criticism by the NATO PA as Georgia moves towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

Mr Kandelaki presented the recent steps taken by the Georgian authorities to further democratic processes in the country. Efforts focused in particular on improving majority-opposition relations and the representation of the opposition in state institutions, and strengthening the independence of the judiciary and the freedom and plurality of the media. Mr Kandelaki noted that the 30 May local elections were seen by many as an important test for Georgia ’s democracy and assured the NATO PA delegation that the authorities treated them as such.

First Deputy Minister of Defence Nikoloz Vashakidze presented Georgia ’s priorities for its relations with NATO, stating that NATO integration features at the top of Georgia ’s foreign policy and defence agenda.  In his view, the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme (ANP) have provided “very efficient tools” for guiding the reform process and facilitating the assessment by the Alliance of the progress achieved. Georgia has now finalised its draft ANP for 2010 and is also significantly increasing its military presence in Afghanistan.

Mr Vashakidze concluded that while Georgia recognizes remaining challenges and shortcomings, the government is positive about achieving its objective of strong appropriately equipped NATO interoperable armed forces under civilian democratic control.

The meeting of the GNIC in Tbilisi takes place simultaneously with the visit of a delegation from the NATO PA’s Subcommittee on Democratic Governance led by Assembly Vice-President Hendrik Jan Ormel (Netherlands ).

A report of the visit will be available soon on our web site.