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Georgia close, strong partner of NATO: Stoltenberg

Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

The meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC) reaffirmed that Georgia is a very close and strong partner of NATO, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday.

He made the statement at the press conference following the meeting.

NATO is committed to helping Georgia make its defense more modern, and thereby enable Georgia to move closer to NATO membership, said Stoltenberg.

He announced that a joint training centre in Tbilisi, Georgia was being set up so that NATO troops, Georgian troops and forces from partner nations would train and exercise together.

NATO condemned the steps taken by Russia in Georgia, "in particular the recent signature of the 'agreement' with the Abkhazia region of Georgia," and expressed concern that Russia prepares to sign a similar agreement with the South Ossetian region of Georgia, added Stoltenberg.

He reaffirmed NATO's strong support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, and "call on Russia to reverse its recognition of these two regions of Georgia as independent states."

NATO defense ministers at the meeting also expressed strong appreciation for Georgia's sizeable contribution to NATO's operations and missions, as well as the significant progress it has made towards an eventual membership of NATO. Endit