North Atlantic Council’s Final Communiqué Speaks of Georgia
In its final Communiqué adopted in Brussels on December 8 the North-Atlantic Council welcomed “the important progress” achieved by Russia and Georgia in their joint declaration of 30 May 2005 on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. “We look forward to resolution of the remaining issues,” the Communiqué reads.
“Fulfillment of the remaining Istanbul commitments on the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova will create the conditions for Allies and other States Parties to move forward on ratification of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty,” the final Communiqué reads.
The 1999 OSCE Istanbul treaty envisages the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia and Moldova. On May 30, 2005 Tbilisi and Moscow agreed that Russia should remove its bases from Georgia by the end of 2008.
The North Atlantic Council also calls on the partner states having reaffirmed their resolve to accede into the Alliance to make full use of various partnership instruments.
The Communiqué also welcomes the interest expressed by Georgia to support Operation Active Endeavour, conducted in the Mediterranean. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, on September 29 the Ministry addressed a letter to the NATO Secretary General expressing its readiness to support this operation.
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