Anders Fogh Rasmussen notes major progress in NATO-Georgia relationsNovember 6, 2011 - 16:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Visit of the NATO's senior decision-making body, North Atlantic Council, to Georgia next week is "a very significant event that stresses the very special partnership between Georgia and NATO," Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the alliance's Secretary General, said. Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, he said that since NAC's first visit to Georgia three years ago, there had been "significant progress" in NATO-Georgia relations, as well as in "reforms of the Georgian defense and the Georgian society in general." "The purpose of our visit to Georgia will be to discuss with the political leaders in Georgia how we can make further progress when it comes to reforms, and further progress in the relationship between Georgia and NATO," Rasmussen said. He reiterated NATO's gratitude for Georgia's significant contribution to the Afghan operation. "Georgia belongs to the largest contributors to our operation in Afghanistan and it is a testament to the very strong Georgian commitment to our Alliance," he added. The NATO Secretary General and NAC, involving ambassadors from the member states, will visit Tbilisi and Batumi on November 9-10, Civil.Ge reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |