The North Atlantic Council (NAC) has visited Georgia for the fourth time in the last eight years. Media representatives, governmental bodies as well as civil society were discussing the importance of the visit of NATO’s main decision – making body in Georgia.
7-8 September, 2016 will be written in Georgian modern history as one of the most important dates in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration process. Why did this visit deserve so much attention? What is the real meaning of the NAC visit? Before discussing the importance of the NAC visit, we should outline dynamics of NATO- Georgia relations.
Georgia cooperates with the North Atlantic Alliance since 1992, but the dynamics of integration process began in 2004, when Georgia became the first country that received Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). Through positive evaluation, in 2006 alliance offered an Intensified Dialogue to Georgia on its aspirations to join the Alliance. Soon in 2008, at the Bucharest Summit NATO leaders agreed that Georgia will become a NATO member. This was an unprecedented statement by which allied countries partly highlighted their political will regarding Georgia’s NATO membership.
Since then NATO- Georgia relations were getting closer by creating following practical mechanisms for Georgia, which play important role on the way of membership:
All abovementioned instruments confirm that the dynamics of Georgia’s NATO membership is positive. So in practical terms Georgia implements fundamental reforms to prepare for NATO membership. Now, Georgia needs the political decision of the Alliance for becoming a NATO member.
The NAC is the main political decision – making body in NATO. Therefore, all important political decisions, regarding NATO enlargement, are made by the NAC. As we mentioned NAC visited Georgia for the fourth time (previously in 2008, 2011 and 2013). During the two day visit representatives from both sides held meetings within NATO – Georgia Commission. Transatlantic security, regional security, and Tbilisi’s reform progress were discussed during the NGC. NATO delegation held bilateral meetings with representatives of executive and legislative government, representatives of NGOs and media.
So what was the role of this visit?
Finally, Secretary General encouraged Georgia to continue implementing fundamental reforms to prepare country for the NATO membership. As well, he stressed that “the bonds between NATO and Georgia are stronger than ever”.
All statements by NATO aimed at encouraging Georgia to proceed implementation of reforms (which plays the key role in the modernization process of the country) as well as these statements could be seen as politically strong support to the state which needs such forceful messages for effective struggle against the increased anti-western propaganda.