The North-Atlantic Alliance Summit has officially opened today. The heads of state and government leaders of NATO member and partner nations have already gathered at a two-day Summit in Newport, Wales to address current and future security challenges. The Georgian delegation chaired by the President Giorgi Margvelashvili is taking part in the Summit. Minister of Defence of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Chief of Defence Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze, State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili and other officials are represented in the delegation.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and UK Prime Minster David Cameron opened the Summit. In their addresses to the public they stressed significance of the meeting. Russian military aggression against Ukraine and increasing extremism in the Middle East and North Africa are the key topics of discussion. NATO member and partner nations' heads of state will also draw attention to the new threats.
The Summit will start with a meeting on Afghanistan. Along with the Georgian President, Minister of Defence Irakli Alasania will attend the meeting. Leaders will discuss the achievements of the ISAF mission and the Alliance's commitment to supporting Afghanistan after 2014.
Irakli Alasania will take part in the meeting at the level of Ministers of Defence with the participants in the Interoperability Platform (28+24) to exchange views on how to improve cooperation, enhance and increase military interoperability. On 4-5 September under the NATO summit, Minister of Defence of Georgia plans bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts. Irakli Alasania will also address the Young Leaders Conference organized by Atlantic Council.
