(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The Georgian government may be preparing the grounds for formally abandoning the country's NATO aspirations and adopt a neutral status, analysts say. Just ahead of the June 24‑25 NATO summit in The Hague, Georgia’s government announced the closure of its NATO and EU Information Centre by July 1, merging its functions into the Foreign Ministry, a [...]
“We’re bolstering our efforts on NATO’s southern flank,” U.S. President Barack Obama said. TBILISI, DFWatch–At the Warsaw summit last weekend, NATO agreed to strengthen its cooperation with Georgia to bolster its defense capabilities. In a joint statement signed by foreign ministers of member countries as well as Georgia, the countries write that […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian delegation to the NATO summit in Warsaw has presented a document signed by six political parties, reiterating their support for the country’s course toward a closer integration with the alliance. The document was signed […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi considers it unlikely that NATO will offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the Warsaw summit, which begins today, after a number of officials from member countries made it clear that it is not on the agenda. Georgian authorities believe […]
Tamaz Mechiauri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A prominent member of parliament from the governing Georgian Dream coalition says Georgia should not seek membership in NATO if it is against the state interests. Tamaz Mechiauri, head of the finance and budget committee, also said he […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian defense minister says there has been too much focus on her country being approved for a formalized plan toward NATO membership, called a MAP, since the alliance can accept Georgia as a member directly, she argues. NATO […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg i May. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit Georgia this August, according to the Defense Ministry. The visit was agreed during a meeting Wednesday between Georgia’s Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli and Deputy Secretary General of the alliance […]
Tedo Japaridze is Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Parliament of Georgia. Alliance’s September summit must offer ‘concrete,’ not ‘token’ help as Georgia faces Russia In the same week that the European Union signed an association agreement with Georgia on June 27, NATO officials meeting in Brussels decided not to offer the country […]
Hugh Bayley (left), President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Georgian Speaker of Parliament, Davit Usupashvili. (Photo published by the parliament press office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of NATO Parliamentary Assembly says the alliance will strengthen its cooperation with countries along Russia’s southwest borders. Hugh Bayley, a member of the British parliament for the Labour party, says one of the main topics […]
Mamuka Tsereteli is director of research at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Amid Ukraine Crisis, US Should Push to Remove an Obstacle Mae West once said that “an ounce of performance is worth a pound of promises.” For Georgians, to whom NATO promised eventual membership in the alliance back in 2008, truer words have never been spoken. […]
NATO envoy James Appathurai (left) and Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Photo published by the Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai says the justice system shouldn’t be politically motivated and trials must be conducted independently, without political interference. Appathurai, who is on a visit to Georgia, on Wednesday met with Defense […]
James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai will visit Georgia on Wednesday to discuss the ‘substantive package’ which the alliance is to offer the former Soviet state at the upcoming summit in Wales in September, the minister in charge of European integration said Monday. […]
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze (left) and NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. (Photo published by NATO.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO will not offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at a summit in Wales in September, the alliance’s secretary general said on Wednesday. “The Summit in Wales will not be about a Membership Action Plan; but about more support […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promises that Georgia’s progress will be assessed at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales, but stops short of saying what the outcome might be. Many Georgians had reckoned that their country would […]
German Chancellor Angela Merkal and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel says NATO will not offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the upcoming summit in Wales in September. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Monday met Merkel during a visit to Germany. At a joint […]
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO. TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will address its open-door policy at the Wales summit later this year, but it’s too early to say exactly how. He said this in response to a question about whether it’s possible […]
David Lidington, Britain’s Minister for Europe. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–We sat down with David Lidington, UK Minister for Europe, who visited on April 1-2, and asked him about Georgia’s association agreement with the EU and whether NATO should set it on course for membership. Is it possible that Russia will bring pressure […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s speaker of parliament says his country could disappear from the world map if abandoned by NATO. “If Georgia takes step towards NATO, this will cause another aggression from Russia,” Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Tuesday […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (NATO photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen does not rule out that the alliance might give Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the summit in Wales in September. At a press conference in Brussels yesterday, a journalist from Georgia’s […]
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is expecting a ‘beneficial decision’ from the NATO summit in Newport, Wales in September. Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili said Monday that a statement made by US President Barack Obama last week was a lesson for him and other […]
Obama’s comments regarding NATO expansion was eagerly debated in Tbilisi Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that there has not been any immediate plans for expansion of NATO’s membership, referring to Ukraine and Georgia. His statement caused protest and criticism among some in Georgia. On Thursday, […]
A group advocating the Russian-led Eurasian Union planned to demonstrate against NATO, but were interrupted by an angry crowd. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three people were detained in Tbilisi on Monday as supporters and opponents of NATO clashed outside the Cinema House. Tension was already high during the screening of a 30 minutes long film about NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia […]
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves warns that Georgia’s EU treaty may be stalled if the investigation of former officials continues. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Western partners are threatening that prosecuting former President Saakashvili may jeopardize an EU treaty and membership in NATO. Georgia has for years sought closer integration with the European Union and membership in NATO. In June, […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania with Georgian soldiers. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia may move one step closer to joining NATO as a result of the Ukraine crisis. If Russia annexes Crimea, NATO will offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP), Russian daily Kommersant reported on Tuesday. The paper based its report on sources […]
Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili (left), NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen and State Minister for Euro-Integration Alexi Petriashvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says NATO ambassadors gave him positive signals at Wednesday’s meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission in Brussels. Gharibashvili said the ambassadors told him the new government has strengthened […]
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it is possible for Georgia to have good relations with Russia and at the same time move towards NATO membership. Rasmussen said there are examples of nations that are member of NATO and […]
James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Alexi Petriashvili, Minister for Euro and Euro-Atlantic integration, yesterday met with NATO envoy James Appathurai, who recounted the meeting on his official Facebook page. “He made a clear, realistic and convincing case for why, if/when the upcoming […]
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (left) arriving in Tbilisi Wednesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–“Yes, Georgia is close [to NATO] but there’s still a lot of work to do,” NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says. The secretary general is visiting Georgia and on Wednesday held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili […]
Georgia’s Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania (left) and NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The NATO-Georgia commission held a session in Brussels on Wednesday as part of a meeting of ministers from member states. The Alliance’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen opened the session by reiterating the importance of Georgia’s […]
Prime Minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili (right), expects NATO to commit to making Georgia a member through a Membership Action Plan in 2014. On the left, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Georgia, Guenther Baechler. (Official Photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new government expects Georgia to receive a membership action plan (MAP) next year. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said this Tuesday at the 22. anniversary of the Georgian army. The head of government has often had to defend himself against […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (center) attending NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Rose Roth Seminar in Tbilisi. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–‘A magical recipe for Georgia’s NATO integration without offending Russia is Georgia becoming an interesting country,’ says Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. He said this Monday as he attended the 83rd Rose Roth Seminar of NATO’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister and president are considering writing a letter to NATO about integration issues, according to the country’s foreign minister. Foreign Affair Minister Maia Panjikidze on Tuesday visited parliament in Kutaisi in western […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The visit of NATO’s top political governing body to Georgia has been agreed upon, said Irakli Alasania, Georgia’s Minister of Defense, to journalists on Monday. He said that the exact date of the visit of the North Atlantic Council as well as the […]
Manana Kobakhidze, Vice Speaker of Parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The governing coalition in Georgia accepts a demand made by President Saakashvili’s National Movement party to write the country’s foreign policy course into the constitution. This means that Georgia’s aspirations to become a member of NATO […]
Giorgi Baramidze, spokesperson for the National Movement party. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement party wants to tie Georgia to the mast in terms of the course of its foreign policy. Spokesperson Giorgi Baramidze Wednesday presented a draft bill that will write into legislation what the […]
President Mikheil Saakashvili criticized the new Georgian government of trying to combine the impossible: Good relations with Russia and NATO at the same time. (CoE photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili criticized his own prime minister for saying that Georgia should have good relations with both Russia and NATO. In a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (CoE) Monday, the president criticized his […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — An attempt at demonstrating against Georgian NATO membership was Sunday quashed by a counter-demonstration. The two rallies took place on Pushkin Square in the center of Tbilisi and started with a call the same day to support friendship with Russia, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says the meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission on Wednesday was not a step forward for the country. Saakashvili made the comment during a working visit to Poland. “Unfortunately, we didn’t see […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO stands if Georgia fulfills necessary criteria, NATO Secretary General states. Anders Fogh Rasmussen was speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the NATO-Russia […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Alexi Petriashvili, State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration, November 19 left for Brussels to attend the session. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is also on a working visit to Brussels, both participating in the NGC session on the level […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Wednesday morning, the Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili met NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels. After the meeting, they held a joint press conference. Fogh Rasmussen said they had a positive and constructive […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says he can’t remember having heard such a critical tone before from NATO regarding Georgia. He was responding to a statement by NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who said he was […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A visit by NATO’s Military Commission to Georgia has been postponed because of the detention of the head of the general headquarters November 7. Alexi Petriashvili, State Minister for Euro and Euro Atlantic Integration, said this Friday. His source […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s first visit abroad after assuming office will be to Brussels on November 12 to 14. After Friday’s government session, Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said Ivanishvili will be meeting with […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s NATO integration coordinating commission held its 39. session at the government office on Thursday. Chair of the commission is Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who chaired the session for the first time. The commission discussed NATO […]
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 […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO envoy James Appathurai yesterday evening arrived in Georgia for a working visit to meet with former and future government members. The October 1 parliamentary was a test for Georgia, which it has passed. The government has changed through the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili promises Bidzina Ivanishvili to help in keeping the new government safe and to retain the direction of Georgia’s foreign policy. This was made clear by Giga Bokeria, Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, after […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili today had a phone conversation with NATO’s Secretary General, who told the president that today is a historical moment for Georgia’s democratic development. Mikheil Saakashvili and Anders Fogh […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has renewed his old election pledge about getting his country into NATO, as he is facing parliamentary and presidential elections. The promise has been a mainstay of Saakashvili’s election campaigning since the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO’s Deputy Secretary General is to visit Georgia on June 28. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Jalaghania announced at a briefing in Tbilisi Monday that Alexander Vershbow will arrive for a two day visit to participate in a defense and […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, is visiting Georgia. Apparthurai came in order to take part in “NATO Week”, which he officially opened today, together with Vice Prime Minister […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, will arrive in Georgia on June 11. NATO’s information center in Tbilisi told DF Watch on Tuesday that Appathurai is coming to Georgia to plan for […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia regrets that NATO was unable to make findings regarding the events of August 2008. The Russian Foreign Ministry says Russia accepts with regret NATO’s decision regarding Georgia. “One of these complex issues is the situation in the South […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Georgia will become a member of the alliance sometime. There has been progress in the reforms and NATO will continue to support the country in that regard. Fogh Rasmussen said this at a joint […]
At the Summit of NATO, leaders of the NATO and non-NATO member states are discussing the next major phase of transition in Afghanistan, furthermore, related to the further steps to ensure that North-Atlantic Alliance has the capabilities necessary to meet the challenges […]
There are several points on Georgia in NATO’s declaration in Chicago published on Monday, 21. DF Watch publishes part of the declaration unchanged: «At the 2008 Bucharest Summit we agreed that Georgia will become a member of NATO and we reaffirm all […]
On 11th of May Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty published an interview with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. It might not raise big interest amongst Georgian media if it would not be right before the NATO Summit on May 20-21, and the question about Georgia […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO countries are meeting in Chicago with aspirant countries and countries which participate in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili is attending the summit, after having spent several days in the U.S. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says 2012 has many parallels to 2008, and that NATO needs to show decisiveness to avoid a new war between Georgia and Russia. He says NATO hesitated in 2008, and must show more decisiveness at a summit in Chicago […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – In a letter to Hilary Clinton, U.S. Senator John McCain expresses concern about Georgia’s occupied territories and calls for the Secretary of the State to support Georgia. “The upcoming NATO summit in Chicago presents an excellent opportunity to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president calls on the international community to send ultra long-term election observers to his country before the parliamentary elections in October. Rights groups and part of the opposition have been appealing to the world to send […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO once again underlines that the decision that Georgia will become member of Alliance stands firm. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, said this today during a press conference with Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili at the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president will participate at the session of the NATO Georgia commission on April 3 in Brussels. According to the president’s administration, Mikheil Saakashvili will meet NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the two will […]
We have bad experience with a German Foreign Minister’s visits to Georgia. Former Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Georgia several weeks before the August war in 2008. He brought along a map with several points for how to solve the Abkhazian conflict. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO is to strengthen its efforts to further democratic reforms in Georgia as part of preparing the country for membership in the alliance. “Today we also have an opportunity to reinforce further the cooperation between NATO and Georgia through supporting […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen reiterates that Georgia is eligible for membership in the alliance sometime in the future when all criteria are met. Fogh Rasmussen said this at a regular briefing when asked by journalists how a potential […]
A number of articles and statements have been boosting our hopes that NATO membership is within Georgia’s grasp. There are several arguments made to this effect, some more serious than others, writes Tedo Djapharidze, Georgia's former ambassador to the United States. This rhetoric surely reflects a commitment to this objective, which no one disputes; [...]
While the Free Democrats strongly support the idea of Georgia’s accession to NATO, the government’s language with which the path to achieving this has recently been described, as "inevitable and irreversible," reflects the wrong attitude for success, in our view. As a club of democracies, NATO requires of its members sound and lasting commitment [...]
Georgia is getting prepared for the NATO Summit in Chicago, when the Leaders of NATO member states will gather to discuss the current agenda of the Euro-Atlantic community, including enlargement issues. The outcome of the Summit is determined by exclusively one particular session, which in this case will be held in Chicago in May [...]
Georgia with all its successes and challenges, once again is becoming a significantly important case for the USA and the EU, especially in the foreground of the events, which are unfolding in Russia. Georgia’s democratic development, its success in formation of a modern, European and welfare state, will significantly influence the development of political process even [...]
TBILISI, DFWatch - Eric Rubin, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs says that the United States supports Georgia’s aspirations towards integration with Euro Atlantic structures and NATO and is working on forming a common position regarding Georgia among the alliance member countries at NATO’s Chicago summit next May. But before the [...]
