WEBVTT 00:15.240 --> 00:17.407 Good morning , thank you very much for 00:17.407 --> 00:19.462 coming . We're going to start with a 00:19.462 --> 00:21.518 short introductory statements by the 00:21.518 --> 00:23.684 Secretary General and the President of 00:23.684 --> 00:25.907 Georgia and then we'll be happy to take 00:25.907 --> 00:25.490 some of your questions . Secretary 00:25.490 --> 00:28.360 General . Good morning . Um It is 00:28.360 --> 00:30.082 indeed a great pleasure to see 00:30.082 --> 00:33.990 President Saca is really again and to 00:34.000 --> 00:37.360 welcome him to NATO headquarters . 00:37.940 --> 00:41.310 We last met a few months 00:41.310 --> 00:45.220 ago in Batumi when 00:45.230 --> 00:48.460 the president hosted a visit of the 00:48.460 --> 00:50.850 North Atlantic council to Georgia . 00:51.540 --> 00:55.430 Now the north Atlantic council is 00:55.430 --> 00:59.200 about to host the President and 00:59.210 --> 01:03.030 that shows um that our dialogue 01:03.040 --> 01:06.550 is deep . It's intensive 01:06.940 --> 01:10.860 And it really is a two way street . 01:11.740 --> 01:15.510 Georgia is a special partner 01:15.520 --> 01:19.320 for NATO . You're committed to our 01:19.320 --> 01:23.180 operations two NATO accession 01:24.040 --> 01:26.170 and committed to reforms . 01:28.040 --> 01:30.560 You already contribute their 01:31.540 --> 01:34.910 second largest non NATO force to our 01:34.910 --> 01:37.760 mission in Afghanistan and by the end 01:37.760 --> 01:40.420 of this year you will be the largest 01:40.430 --> 01:44.370 non NATO isaf partner . Your troops 01:44.380 --> 01:48.060 are doing an outstanding job 01:48.540 --> 01:51.450 shoulder to shoulder with NATO troops 01:52.540 --> 01:56.090 under challenging circumstances . Some 01:56.090 --> 01:59.230 have given their lives in our shared 01:59.240 --> 02:03.020 course and I pay tribute to their 02:03.030 --> 02:06.430 sacrifice and I offer my deepest 02:06.430 --> 02:09.540 condolences to their families and loved 02:09.540 --> 02:12.840 ones . But our 02:12.840 --> 02:15.520 relationship goes far beyond 02:15.530 --> 02:19.330 Afghanistan . Georgia aspires to 02:19.340 --> 02:23.140 join our alliance and we support 02:23.150 --> 02:26.660 your aspirations . We agreed 02:27.040 --> 02:30.290 At the Bucharest summit in 2008 that 02:30.290 --> 02:33.850 Georgia will become a member of NATO . 02:34.840 --> 02:38.360 That decision stands firm 02:39.340 --> 02:43.010 and let me reaffirm the alliance 02:43.020 --> 02:46.370 recognizes Georgia's territorial 02:46.370 --> 02:50.230 integrity and its sovereignty within 02:50.240 --> 02:53.260 internationally recognized borders . 02:54.740 --> 02:57.860 The alliance does not recognize the 02:57.860 --> 03:00.720 elections held recently in the Georgian 03:00.720 --> 03:03.360 regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia . 03:04.920 --> 03:07.940 The holding of these elections does not 03:07.940 --> 03:11.040 contribute to a peaceful and lasting 03:11.040 --> 03:13.360 settlement of the situation in Georgia . 03:15.440 --> 03:18.660 Toyota has become a model of 03:18.670 --> 03:21.460 commitment , cooperation and 03:21.460 --> 03:24.980 connectivity with the alliance and we 03:24.990 --> 03:28.060 encourage you to continue that way . 03:29.140 --> 03:32.260 One month ago we agreed on 03:32.270 --> 03:34.770 strengthening and broadening the 03:34.770 --> 03:37.150 connections between NATO and Georgia . 03:38.140 --> 03:40.360 This will support your reforms , 03:40.840 --> 03:43.890 increase our ability to operate 03:43.900 --> 03:47.650 together and strengthen the capacity of 03:47.650 --> 03:50.520 the Jordan institutions to pursue your 03:50.520 --> 03:53.860 euro atlantic at the agenda and goals . 03:55.340 --> 03:58.810 This is a long road . Um and we are 03:58.810 --> 04:01.250 taking it one step at a time . 04:02.640 --> 04:04.862 But you have already made good progress 04:05.340 --> 04:08.140 and I trust that you will continue with 04:08.140 --> 04:11.310 your progress and your reforms as you 04:11.310 --> 04:13.770 approach the parliamentary elections 04:13.780 --> 04:16.730 this year . Those elections will be an 04:16.730 --> 04:19.250 important test for Georgia's democracy 04:19.640 --> 04:22.420 and a chance to show how far you have 04:22.420 --> 04:25.140 come . I know that allies will follow 04:25.140 --> 04:27.660 them closely in all 04:28.740 --> 04:31.650 Georgia is a model partner . 04:32.640 --> 04:35.670 Mr President , I look forward to seeing 04:35.670 --> 04:38.400 you again in Chicago where allies and 04:38.400 --> 04:42.100 partners will make clear our 04:42.110 --> 04:45.740 continued commitment to Afghanistan and 04:45.740 --> 04:49.700 I expect that in Chicago we will also 04:49.700 --> 04:52.850 make clear how much we appreciate and 04:52.850 --> 04:56.760 recognize the commitment usual to NATO 04:57.140 --> 04:59.560 and the steady progress you have made . 04:59.940 --> 05:01.884 Thank you . Thank you Mr Secretary 05:01.884 --> 05:04.210 General First , I would like to really 05:04.220 --> 05:06.250 underline how would like to really 05:06.260 --> 05:09.250 underline how grateful me and our 05:09.250 --> 05:11.417 people , which is more important , art 05:11.417 --> 05:13.583 for yours , very strong personal stand 05:13.930 --> 05:16.800 in support of Georgia In your previous 05:16.800 --> 05:18.967 capacities . Prime Minister of Denmark 05:18.967 --> 05:20.633 will never forget your strong 05:20.633 --> 05:22.800 statements in 2008 . The fact that you 05:22.800 --> 05:24.911 came to Tbilisi immediately after the 05:24.911 --> 05:27.790 events that took place . Then my first 05:27.790 --> 05:30.640 official visit after the events was to 05:30.650 --> 05:32.761 Denmark . And that was again , I will 05:32.761 --> 05:34.983 never forget your reception and then in 05:34.983 --> 05:37.770 this very efficient coil quality which 05:37.770 --> 05:39.603 you have now and very successful 05:39.603 --> 05:41.714 mission of being Secretary general of 05:41.714 --> 05:44.050 the alliance . You've been very strong , 05:44.060 --> 05:46.310 supporting Georgia's NATO aspirations 05:46.320 --> 05:48.270 in supporting our reforms . It's 05:48.270 --> 05:50.103 supporting Georgia's territorial 05:50.103 --> 05:52.270 integrity and accessibility underlying 05:52.270 --> 05:54.381 the flexibility ability of the status 05:54.381 --> 05:56.437 quo with our regions . And certainly 05:56.437 --> 05:58.760 this is something that makes historic 05:58.760 --> 06:00.927 difference for long term prospects for 06:00.927 --> 06:02.982 not only for my country but also for 06:02.982 --> 06:04.760 our um for our region . We also 06:04.760 --> 06:08.160 appreciate the way how you to really 06:08.170 --> 06:10.950 let NATO through very difficult visions 06:10.950 --> 06:13.061 that for us , success of that mission 06:13.061 --> 06:15.117 is absolutely essential for our long 06:15.117 --> 06:17.230 term survival . Success at further 06:17.230 --> 06:21.110 progress . Um we we certainly are 06:21.110 --> 06:23.166 committed to further changes . We're 06:23.166 --> 06:25.221 looking forward to Chicago . I think 06:25.221 --> 06:27.277 the framework we are now getting for 06:27.277 --> 06:29.277 Chicago looks more and more hopeful 06:29.277 --> 06:31.166 because it really underlines that 06:31.166 --> 06:33.180 Georgia has been moving forward . 06:33.190 --> 06:35.412 That's very important to underline . Uh 06:35.412 --> 06:38.060 I noticed Mr Secretary General that 06:38.140 --> 06:40.660 twice in your short statement today , 06:40.670 --> 06:43.760 you mentioned Georgia as a model as a 06:43.760 --> 06:46.390 role role model and the model country . 06:46.400 --> 06:49.420 And this really goes to what I visit 06:49.420 --> 06:51.142 President Obama in january and 06:51.142 --> 06:53.198 President Obama called Georgia model 06:53.198 --> 06:55.600 for the whole region of uh reforms and 06:55.600 --> 06:59.020 and changes and uh democracy building . 06:59.030 --> 07:01.350 And I think the fact that you're also 07:01.350 --> 07:04.870 talking about this model of Georgia is 07:04.880 --> 07:07.140 for us . Special special significance 07:07.140 --> 07:09.307 is first the first time underlines our 07:09.307 --> 07:11.820 progress , but also how committed we 07:11.820 --> 07:14.150 should stay to this kind of thing . You 07:14.150 --> 07:17.490 know , we we have elections this year 07:17.490 --> 07:19.800 and we called strongly on international 07:19.800 --> 07:21.689 community on the european union , 07:21.689 --> 07:24.830 european parliament . Uh the uh oh I 07:24.830 --> 07:28.180 see our partner countries including the 07:28.180 --> 07:30.550 members of the alliance to send not 07:30.550 --> 07:32.328 only short term , but long term 07:32.328 --> 07:34.494 observers to do polling of a period of 07:34.494 --> 07:36.550 public opinion for all this period . 07:36.550 --> 07:38.383 Monitor Georgia , media coverage 07:38.640 --> 07:42.070 monitored party party financing 07:42.070 --> 07:44.460 mechanism in Georgia in order to ensure 07:44.460 --> 07:46.571 that not just the dale of elections , 07:46.571 --> 07:49.560 but the whole process is transparent , 07:50.540 --> 07:52.950 predictable for from the point of view , 07:52.950 --> 07:56.420 observing standards . And we exclude 07:56.430 --> 07:59.620 any kind of surprises or any kind of uh 07:59.630 --> 08:02.280 you know biased and not such well 08:02.280 --> 08:04.980 wishing pressure on the whole process 08:04.980 --> 08:07.130 from outside or from destructive 08:07.130 --> 08:09.550 elements from any side . So from that 08:09.550 --> 08:12.010 point of view , we really want your 08:12.010 --> 08:14.160 help this year . Uh And we will 08:14.170 --> 08:16.410 certainly be committed to making this 08:16.420 --> 08:18.260 Usually countries try to avoid , 08:18.340 --> 08:20.560 especially in my region , all kinds of 08:20.560 --> 08:22.504 international intrusion into their 08:22.504 --> 08:24.671 election process . We wanted we wanted 08:24.671 --> 08:26.838 to in order to make the whole thing uh 08:26.838 --> 08:29.004 sustainable and institutional building 08:29.004 --> 08:31.620 universal from the other point of view . 08:31.630 --> 08:33.741 You know , we certainly are committed 08:33.741 --> 08:35.963 to our mission in Afghanistan . This is 08:35.963 --> 08:37.686 a hard mission , thank you for 08:37.686 --> 08:39.686 underlining , but we know what's at 08:39.686 --> 08:41.741 stake here . We know that we it also 08:41.741 --> 08:43.852 brings us close to alliance . It also 08:43.852 --> 08:45.574 makes our , you know , it also 08:45.574 --> 08:47.519 resonates with Georgian history of 08:47.519 --> 08:51.450 being um part of a wider western 08:51.460 --> 08:54.310 civilized or in this case democratic , 08:54.320 --> 08:56.431 wider community . And from that point 08:56.431 --> 08:58.660 of view , we know and our people know 08:58.660 --> 09:00.660 that despite the losses , what's at 09:00.660 --> 09:02.549 stake there , what's at stake for 09:02.549 --> 09:04.771 international community , at what steak 09:04.771 --> 09:06.938 for our region and what's at stake for 09:06.938 --> 09:09.049 us and our for our future . It's also 09:09.049 --> 09:11.271 good that it helps to develop Georgia's 09:11.271 --> 09:13.382 own capacities that has been evolving 09:13.382 --> 09:15.327 with your help and we'll certainly 09:15.327 --> 09:17.382 count that , you know , with enhance 09:17.382 --> 09:19.604 connectivity , idea that now we have in 09:19.604 --> 09:21.716 NATO with NATO Georgia Commission has 09:21.716 --> 09:23.716 really proven to be right venue for 09:23.716 --> 09:25.827 this . I think we're moving forward . 09:25.827 --> 09:27.938 Again , I'm looking forward to seeing 09:27.938 --> 09:27.560 North atlantic Council . It's our 09:27.560 --> 09:29.560 second meeting for the last several 09:29.560 --> 09:31.671 months . You've been very generous in 09:31.671 --> 09:33.893 your positive assessment last time when 09:33.893 --> 09:35.949 you were in Georgia of our reforms , 09:35.949 --> 09:35.590 we've done quite some progress after 09:35.590 --> 09:37.646 that to I report about this progress 09:37.646 --> 09:40.990 into neck and we'll be very open for to 09:40.990 --> 09:43.212 all kind of questions . You know , it's 09:43.212 --> 09:45.268 always a frank discussion and that's 09:45.268 --> 09:47.268 what we appreciated , NATO's just a 09:47.268 --> 09:49.434 ceremonial thing . It's really a place 09:49.434 --> 09:51.490 to discuss real business and to have 09:51.490 --> 09:53.640 real decisions taken . Please don't 09:53.640 --> 09:55.807 forget to introduce yourself and which 09:55.807 --> 09:57.807 media you come from ? We'll go over 09:57.807 --> 09:59.862 there . Thank you very much , George 09:59.862 --> 10:01.862 and public broadcaster Mr Secretary 10:01.862 --> 10:03.807 General , how the progress made by 10:03.807 --> 10:05.973 Georgia you mentioned about it will be 10:05.973 --> 10:07.696 reflected in Chicago . Will be 10:07.696 --> 10:09.750 reflected in Chicago . Thank you . 10:12.240 --> 10:13.962 We have not yet made the final 10:13.962 --> 10:16.980 decisions as to how we will 10:16.990 --> 10:19.460 organize um 10:19.940 --> 10:23.790 partnership events uh in 10:23.800 --> 10:27.090 Chicago . But I think 10:27.100 --> 10:30.250 we will reflect 10:30.260 --> 10:32.750 our a special 10:33.840 --> 10:37.780 partnership with Georgia in three ways , 10:37.780 --> 10:41.610 firstly reflect that uh 10:41.620 --> 10:43.690 Georgia is one of the major 10:43.690 --> 10:47.220 contributors to our operation in 10:47.220 --> 10:50.870 Afghanistan , secondly reflect that 10:50.870 --> 10:54.790 Georgia in general is a 10:54.790 --> 10:58.760 major contributor to um 10:59.240 --> 11:02.170 the transatlantic cooperation 11:02.180 --> 11:05.880 within the special NATO 11:05.890 --> 11:09.160 Georgia uh commission 11:09.640 --> 11:13.560 um um and um 11:14.840 --> 11:17.470 uh certainly uh that 11:17.480 --> 11:21.200 uh Georgia is also 11:21.200 --> 11:24.270 considered an aspirant country , a 11:24.280 --> 11:26.920 country that aspires to become a future 11:26.930 --> 11:30.760 member of um a NATO . 11:31.240 --> 11:35.100 All in all . I hope that could 11:35.110 --> 11:38.760 be reflected in a strong 11:39.140 --> 11:42.350 declaration statement from 11:42.840 --> 11:46.570 from the summit and as regards special 11:46.570 --> 11:48.390 partnership events were still 11:48.390 --> 11:51.260 considering how they will be organized . 11:51.270 --> 11:55.120 No final decision has been made yet one 11:55.130 --> 11:57.186 other question over there . Sophie's 11:57.186 --> 11:59.408 Arabian Georgian tv company in mary now 11:59.408 --> 12:01.463 I would like to ask you questions to 12:01.463 --> 12:03.900 bother you . Um uh you answered me 12:03.900 --> 12:07.160 yesterday um Secretary general that uh 12:07.170 --> 12:10.190 one of the main issues today would be 12:10.200 --> 12:14.170 uh security issues , so that's 12:14.170 --> 12:16.170 why I'm asking , what's the georges 12:16.170 --> 12:18.780 role in in the uh security in the 12:18.780 --> 12:20.836 region ? And the second question you 12:20.836 --> 12:23.170 mentioned already , progress made by 12:23.170 --> 12:26.150 Georgia in the way toward NATO . But 12:26.160 --> 12:28.382 it's very important question to media , 12:28.382 --> 12:30.493 that's why I would like to specify on 12:30.493 --> 12:32.549 it . So how do you evaluate progress 12:32.549 --> 12:35.760 meet in Georgia NATO relations and also 12:35.840 --> 12:37.800 on the way of its democratization 12:37.800 --> 12:41.360 reforms . Thank you so much firstly 12:41.370 --> 12:45.260 on the contribution to 12:45.270 --> 12:48.680 regional peace and stability . We 12:48.680 --> 12:52.020 appreciate um the very clear 12:52.020 --> 12:54.580 statements from President Saakashvili 12:54.580 --> 12:57.720 as well as the Georgian government that 12:57.730 --> 13:00.390 Georgia is committed to finding 13:00.400 --> 13:04.040 peaceful solutions to the 13:04.050 --> 13:07.260 regional disputes and we 13:07.260 --> 13:10.840 support those efforts . Um 13:10.850 --> 13:14.780 uh we also strongly uh 13:14.790 --> 13:18.750 support the Geneva 13:18.750 --> 13:22.540 talks with the aim to to find a 13:22.540 --> 13:25.630 solution to the conflict 13:25.640 --> 13:28.960 on Abkhazia and South Ossetia 13:29.640 --> 13:33.640 and but more broadly speaking 13:33.640 --> 13:37.190 about security . The President also 13:37.190 --> 13:40.910 made clear today that that 13:40.910 --> 13:44.050 Jordan engagement in Afghanistan should 13:44.050 --> 13:47.700 also be seen as a strong contribution 13:47.700 --> 13:51.060 to regional security because um 13:51.340 --> 13:53.880 what is going on in Afghanistan will 13:53.880 --> 13:57.610 also have repercussions uh in the 13:57.620 --> 14:00.540 broader region , including in the 14:00.540 --> 14:04.110 caucasus . So um I think 14:04.120 --> 14:07.310 Georgia has demonstrated that Georgia 14:07.310 --> 14:10.860 is not just a consumer of security . Um 14:10.940 --> 14:12.840 Georgia is also a producer of a 14:12.840 --> 14:16.750 provider of security as regards 14:16.760 --> 14:20.660 the reform process . Uh we have 14:20.660 --> 14:23.790 seen clear progress when it comes to 14:23.800 --> 14:27.480 democratic reforms um in Georgia . we 14:27.480 --> 14:29.202 have discussed that on several 14:29.202 --> 14:31.630 occasions and we appreciate very much 14:31.640 --> 14:35.150 uh legislation that has been passed 14:35.340 --> 14:38.160 to um 14:38.540 --> 14:41.930 improve the way 14:41.940 --> 14:45.430 democracy functions uh in Georgia 14:45.440 --> 14:48.170 uh in more specific terms when it comes 14:48.170 --> 14:51.840 to reforms of the defense and security 14:51.840 --> 14:54.210 sector , uh NATO has been strongly 14:54.210 --> 14:57.460 engaged and we also appreciate um 14:57.740 --> 15:00.920 progress achieved in that area . So all 15:00.920 --> 15:03.960 in all NATO has given a very positive 15:03.970 --> 15:07.430 assessment uh the reform 15:07.440 --> 15:10.890 efforts in jail reform efforts in 15:10.900 --> 15:11.460 Georgia . 15:14.640 --> 15:16.820 Well , as I said , you know , for us , 15:16.830 --> 15:18.830 uh Secretary General basically said 15:18.830 --> 15:20.997 brilliantly , I cannot put it a better 15:20.997 --> 15:23.330 way . If I had , I would have said that , 15:23.330 --> 15:25.760 you know , nobody can sell success of 15:26.240 --> 15:28.462 Georgian government more to the world , 15:28.462 --> 15:30.684 that also to Georgian people as he does 15:30.684 --> 15:32.710 a very good communicator , but also 15:32.710 --> 15:34.543 it's a substance to it . And the 15:34.543 --> 15:36.710 substances that our up respond to NATO 15:36.710 --> 15:38.932 has been driving that process as well . 15:38.932 --> 15:41.099 This is not just an issue , you know , 15:41.099 --> 15:43.210 when we talk about reforms , the fact 15:43.210 --> 15:45.377 that 70% plus of our people are firmly 15:45.377 --> 15:47.488 committed to members of NATO and only 15:47.488 --> 15:49.710 90s against that clearly shows you that 15:49.710 --> 15:51.766 that's a very powerful motivator for 15:51.766 --> 15:54.099 further democratic reforms . It changes . 15:54.099 --> 15:56.154 And from that point of view , we are 15:56.154 --> 15:58.321 very committed , we are very committed 15:58.321 --> 16:00.321 to security because as we said , we 16:00.321 --> 16:02.543 want to be part of wider picture George 16:02.543 --> 16:05.200 is having their uh almost like coat 16:05.210 --> 16:07.580 national of national history of being 16:07.590 --> 16:09.534 ourselves , A complex multi ethnic 16:09.534 --> 16:11.423 country with lots of background , 16:11.423 --> 16:13.479 complex background that we should be 16:13.479 --> 16:15.146 present in this international 16:15.146 --> 16:17.368 operations . And we want NATO to exceed 16:17.368 --> 16:19.680 60 succeed . Any kind of setback for 16:19.680 --> 16:23.180 NATO would be a major multiplied 16:23.190 --> 16:25.670 setback for Georgia . That's a very 16:25.670 --> 16:28.790 clear thing for us . We cannot stay 16:28.800 --> 16:32.350 intact or neutral or you know , just 16:32.360 --> 16:34.440 impartial when we are talking about 16:34.440 --> 16:36.607 these issues where where where we have 16:36.607 --> 16:40.120 absolutely life kind of interest in its 16:40.130 --> 16:42.540 in terms of succeed or success of their 16:42.540 --> 16:44.318 lives from that point of view . 16:44.318 --> 16:46.660 Whatever we can do in now withdrawal 16:46.660 --> 16:48.382 process but also finishing the 16:48.382 --> 16:50.240 operation correctly . Also , 16:50.250 --> 16:52.194 unfortunately , knowing that where 16:52.194 --> 16:54.194 people have died there and there is 16:54.194 --> 16:56.570 always a risk in the building post war 16:56.570 --> 16:58.840 Afghanistan in contributing to it , not 16:58.840 --> 17:00.896 only in terms of funds , but also in 17:00.896 --> 17:03.350 terms of changes reforms training uh 17:03.540 --> 17:05.707 giving our own infrastructure for that 17:05.707 --> 17:07.940 uh participates with our own 17:07.940 --> 17:09.773 infrastructure in the withdrawal 17:09.773 --> 17:11.884 process . We are willing to do all of 17:11.884 --> 17:13.900 that . And I think this will only 17:13.900 --> 17:15.789 enhance our ties with their lives 17:15.789 --> 17:17.900 because it's also ultimately , that's 17:17.900 --> 17:20.122 what it's all it's also about for other 17:20.122 --> 17:22.122 people . In any case , we have much 17:22.122 --> 17:24.289 better working cooperation now in NATO 17:24.289 --> 17:26.400 with other than ever before . We used 17:26.400 --> 17:28.511 to have very good political relations 17:28.511 --> 17:30.622 now under this leadership of NATO and 17:30.622 --> 17:32.733 also within the because with the last 17:32.733 --> 17:34.956 two years we really got from commission 17:34.956 --> 17:37.289 and other things , concrete instruments , 17:37.289 --> 17:39.289 how we could cooperate better . And 17:39.289 --> 17:41.289 we're doing that . Okay , thank you 17:41.289 --> 17:40.960 very much . This concludes the press 17:40.960 --> 17:41.560 point . Thank you .