After meeting
with Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania NATO’s Chairman of
the Military Committee General Knud Bartels made comments in front of
journalists about the discussed issues.
General
Bartels positively assessed process of transformation and reforms that have
been taking place in field of Defense in Georgia. He underlined the significant
progress achieved in political dynamics, in scope of transparency and
accountability:
“NATO
officials gave high assessment to reforms concerning Defense forces and issues
of political significance that include transparency of budgeting and accountability
towards Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee.”
Bartels also
mentioned high level of compatibility of Georgian military forces with NATO
standards and gave as an example their past participation in ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
He pointed out that NATO was
planning to decrease number of forces in Afghanistan
by the end of 2014 and leave limited number of army which would not have military
mission status.
General talked
about the importance of NATO’s Immediate Response Forces that served Alliance
as a leverage to react immediately according to the development of events.
Within this
context he stated:
“That’s why
Georgia’s participation in Immediate Response Forces is so important, and we
are happy that Georgia will become its participant from 2015.”
