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NATO PA spring session underway in Georgian capital

29 May 2017 09:26 (UTC +04:00)

The plenary meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session kicked off in Tbilisi, Georgia on May 29.

Delivering a keynote remarks at the meeting, NATO PA President Paolo Alli reaffirmed the Alliance’s support to Georgia’s territorial integrity, an APA correspondent reported from the event.

He praised Georgia’s willingness to join NATO.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze spoke about the reforms carried out in the country. “Georgia is trying to become a full member of NATO. We think we are on the right track, this is the people’s desire,” he added.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili expressed satisfaction with the holding of the NATO PA spring session in Tbilisi.

“There is danger everywhere, and we live in a difficult time. Twenty percent of our territory is under occupation of our northern neighbor and the people have become refugees in their own country. Despite this, Georgia chose the path of democracy, he noted.

Georgia is developing and integrating into European structures, said Margvelashvili, stressing that “they are looking forward to Georgia’s membership to NATO.”

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about the obligations undertaken by his country on the expansion of the country's defense system, independence of the judiciary, transparency of prosecutor elections, development of education, media freedom, information transparency, national minorities and gender equality, conditions for prisoners, etc.

The prime minister underlined the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan projects.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller stressed the importance of the session's being held in Georgia.

At the end of the meeting, NATO PA members will adopt a resolution supporting the Georgia's membership in the Alliance.