Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) greeted James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, at his business complex in Tbilisi. (Official photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO will remain absolutely committed to Georgia, a NATO envoy said after meeting the future prime minister of Georgia.

James Appathurai, who is on a visit to Georgia, on Thursday held a meeting with Bidzina Ivanishvili, congratulating him on his victory in the parliamentary election.

“We’ve had excellent discussion today, he has reiterated Georgia’s commitment to NATO, to membership in NATO and to participation in the mission in Afghanistan,” he said after the meeting, which was held at Ivanishvili’s business center,

“I have welcomed all of these, but also wanted to recommit NATO to Georgia, the future of Georgia in NATO, our gratitude for the contribution in Afghanistan.”

James Appathurai expressed condolence for the 18. Georgian soldier who lost his life during ther mission in Afghanistan.

“Georgia is a close partner to the alliance and aspirant to the NATO membership and we will remain absolutely committed to this country,” he remarked.

Bidzina Ivanishvili after the meeting assured his guest that they will do everything to form democratic institutions in Georgia, which is a requirement for NATO member countries.

“We passed a very interesting exam, which is called election. It defined our perspectives. I reminded him that we did it. Now they should make more principle, more practical steps to manage Georgia’s NATO membership in the nearest future,” he said, adding that he is proud of Georgia’s particiption in Afghanistan together with NATO member countries.

“We will do everything in order to at the same time manage and put in order relations with our large neighbor Russia and to restore our territorial integrity.”