Defence minister calls opponents claims - Georgia in international isolation - “absurd”
Burchuladze noted that based on the recommendations of Georgia’s international partners, the medium and long-term plans had been drawn up, involving a 10-year perspective, and added this year’s enhanced budget, increased by ₾80 million (about $29mln), would give the ministry opportunity to surpass the target plan. Photo: Defence ministry
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Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday called the claims of the opposition, as though Georgia has been in international isolation, “absurd” and highlighted the “high-level” visits of the Georgian side with its partner countries, in an interview with Imedi TV channel.
Discussing the cooperation with international partners, Burchuladze said that the Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili had co-chaired a “high-level” thematic discussion on the peaceful and secure future of the European Union within the framework of the first session of the inaugural summit of the European Political Community in Prague.
The minister also noted that in his meeting with Bonnie Jenkins, the US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, the US official had “confirmed” that Georgia’s policy has been “one of the strongest” in the region, and he emphasised he had attended four summits in Brussels, adding that Georgia has been a member of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, despite being able to “provide direct military aid to Ukraine”.
He also discussed the existing challenges in the region and noted that they have not changed, just the “intensity” of them has increased in connection with the Russian-Ukraine war.
There is no alternative to our policy, and as a result of it, not only today's Georgia was not affected by these problems, but we have determined the future of the country in the 10-20 years perspective. [...] it is possible for the future of Georgia to be based only on its development", the minister said.
Burchuladze noted that based on the recommendations of Georgia’s international partners, the medium and long-term plans had been drawn up, involving a 10-year perspective, and added this year’s enhanced budget, increased by ₾80 million (about $29mln), would give the ministry opportunity to surpass the target plan.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday is participating in a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, discussing the situation created as a result of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the country’s needs in combating the ongoing Russian offensives, as well as the security challenges facing the United States’s allies and partners.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, who is participating in an ongoing NATO defence ministerial, on Thursday said “all partner countries” of Georgia noted the country needed “more support, assistance and concrete steps” from the alliance.
NATO’s political and practical support for Georgia, the security environment and challenges in the Black Sea region and the war in Ukraine were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Wednesday participated in the meeting of Rammstein format of NATO in Brussels for the first time, discussing strategies and initiatives to assist Ukraine in combating the ongoing Russian offensives.
President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis on Monday said Georgia could play "a good role" in ensuring peace in the Black Sea region, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reported.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday laid the foundation for the construction of a new, NATO-standard base for the country’s special operations forces in an event marking the 23rd anniversary of their establishment.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze discussed bilateral ties, prospects for closer cooperation and existing security challenges amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict with the newly appointed Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson, the Georgian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.