Georgia expands NATO cooperation

In a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the country’s foreign minister, Maya Panjikidze, has said the country must broaden its involvement in both Nato and general political and security policies, Georgia Online reports.

The Georgian Dream coalition led by businessman-turned-politician Bidzina Ivanishvili came to power after the October 1, 2012 parliamentary election, making President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement an opposition force.

The new government has said the reconciliation with Russia is among their foreign policy priorities.

“We have taken concrete steps, such as the re-establishment of the direct communication with Russia. But those measures should not replace the negotiation process going on within the Geneva Convention frameworks. It is necessary to realize that we cannot reach a full-fledged reconciliation as long as a part of Georgia remains under the Russian troops’ control. The maintenance of the status quo, that is, our country’s 20% occupation by Russia, is a serious threat to Georgian and European security,” Panjukidze said.