Euro-Atlantic Integration, NATO Membership Remain Georgia's Top Priorities

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said that Georgia's accession to NATO is the main strategic goal of the Georgian government.

TBILISI (Sputnik) — The main priorities of the Georgian authorities are keeping the country on the track toward NATO membership and Euro-Atlantic integration, President Giorgi Margvelashvili said Wednesday.

"Euro-Atlantic integration remains the top priority for Georgia's security. We are using all of NATO's tools to deepen our defense capabilities. In the present difficult circumstances, we will continue our efforts toward Georgia becoming a member of the alliance," the president said in his annual address to parliament.

The country's accession to NATO is the main strategic goal of the Georgian government, the president added.

Margvelashvili also noted the importance of Georgia's participation in a number of international missions and anti-terrorist efforts.

In 1992, as Georgia became a sovereign state, it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, later engaging in other NATO programs. In 2008, NATO supported Georgia's bid to join the alliance, and established a commission to oversee the process of Georgian accession to NATO.

The European Union and Tbilisi signed the EU-Georgia Association Agreement in 2014.