Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said on November 17 that joint NATO-Georgia exercises are aimed to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and they are not directed against anyone.
Joint NATO-Georgia Exercises 2016 are being held at the Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) in Krtsanisi on November 10-20 with the participation of servicemen from Georgia, 11 allied member states and 2 partners. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed protest over the drills saying that “Russia sees this activity as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.”
“We want to strengthen our country’s defense capabilities in order to bring more calmness, more stability. Strengthening our defense capabilities is not directed against anyone,” President Margvelashvili said while addressing the participants of the joint exercises in Krtsanisi.
He said that Georgia proves that “it is a responsible partner”, which is ready to contribute to ensuring global security.
In his address PM Kvirikashvili said that the exercises confirm that Georgia remains firmly on the course of Euro-Atlantic integration.
“Our goal is to strengthen Georgia’s defence capabilities and bring Georgian troops closer to NATO standards,” he said. “Similar exercises enable us to make important contribution to strengthening international security. NATO-Georgian cooperation is directed towards ensuring peace, stability and development in the region that should serve the interests of all parties.”
“Holding these multinational exercises in Georgia is yet another confirmation that the alliance firmly supports our country in the process of effective implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package and realization of its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the PM said.
