Meetings and Discussions

   

The Visit of NATO Representatives

On  September 28, 2005  the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies hosted Mr. James Mackey, South Caucasus Desk Officer of the NATO Political Affairs and Security Division  and Mr. Bruce Bach, NATO PARP Country Officer for Georgia.  During the meeting, guests discussed Georgia-NATO relations. Georgia has been interested in joining the alliance since the Partnership for Peace summit in 1994.

According to Mr. Mackey the chances of Georgia’s eventual membership depends on three pillars: intellectual interoperability, institutional reforms, and regional and international operations.  Intellectual interoperability entails improving the skills of individuals working in Georgia’s security structure. NATO also seeks institutional reforms that allow democratic transparency and accountability throughout the government, but especially in defense spending. The regional and international operations component seeks to promote interoperability with other nations to help Georgia participate in international operations.

Georgia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) was approved in October 2004. This plan details the reforms and actions Georgia must take in order to be seriously considered for NATO membership. Mr. Bach said that the Georgian military faces many hurdles, but they can be overcome with much hard work.