Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and NATO allies with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Mircea Geoana during a phone call yesterday ahead of the NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled on January 12, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia (FMA) reports,
agenda.ge reports.
Zalkaliani said that his talk with Geoana is ‘a logical continuation’ of a conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, in which they discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe, on January 5.
Cooperation with Georgia, strategic partnership and tackling our issues are top priorities of our partners,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani also said that his conversation with Geoana ‘is a confirmation of the constant attention given to Georgia by the partners,’ noting that ‘NATO is not going to reconsider its position regarding Georgia.’
I received reassurances from the NATO Deputy Secretary-General that NATO is consistent in its decisions and that European security is based on the security of partners,” Zalkaliani states.
NATO Deputy Secretary-General Geoana stated that Georgia is ‘a valued NATO partner, adding that ‘we support every nation's right to freely choose their own security arrangements.’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that, prior to the NATO-Russia council, they are ‘consulting closely’ with NATO partners, including Georgia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, and the EU.