NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said Georgia is a “special partner”, which made “remarkable progress” and added that upcoming local elections will be “another significant milestone” on the road to the mature democracy.

In opening remarks at the NATO-Georgia Commission on the level of foreign ministers in Brussels on April 2, Rasmussen said that Georgia “has proven itself to be a security exporter”, noting Georgia’s contribution to mission in Afghanistan, its commitment to continue its participation in the post-2014 mission and intention to join NATO Response Forces from 2015.

“You have achieved remarkable progress in your ambitious democratic and defense reforms. Further progress will require continued constructive cooperation between the government and opposition,” the NATO Secretary General said.

“After last year’s president elections, this June’s local elections will be another significant milestone along the road to the mature democracy in Georgia.”
 
“Georgia can become a role model for whole region, a nation that provides security and stability, a nation that is undertaking real reforms and reaping real dividends and the nation that is on track to deliver on its sovereign choice of European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” Rasmussen said.

He also said that “crisis at our borders following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine” will also be discussed at the NATO-Georgia Commission meeting and reiterated Alliance’s support to Georgia’s territorial integrity and its aspiration to join NATO.