Georgia is really a highly valued partner of NATO, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated during the meeting with the Georgian President Salomé Zurabishvili, NATO reported.

"Georgia makes strong contributions to our shared security. You are one of the largest troop contributors to our training mission in Afghanistan.  You also contribute to the NATO Response Force. And in March, you will host a joint NATO-Georgia exercise. With the participation of 17 NATO Allies. All of this demonstrates that Georgia is a unique partner of the Alliance. And that our partnership is getting even closer.

At our meeting today, we agreed to continue working together to prepare Georgia for NATO membership. The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package is already strengthening your country’s defences. Including with our Joint Training Centre.

We also welcome the progress you are making on reforms. Including on more effective security and defence institutions and modernising your armed forces.  I encourage you to continue on this path. And I welcome your commitment to match the NATO guideline of spending 2% of GDP on defence.

NATO fully supports Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Which includes the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We call on Russia to end its recognition of and withdraw its forces from both regions.

NATO and Georgia also share concerns about Russia’s military build-up in the Black Sea region,"  Jens Stoltenberg  noted.