"This period is of particular importance to Georgia – reforms are implemented to strengthen Georgia, its democracy and defense capacities. Lithuania's experience shows that such reforms take time and require determined effort. Real changes need not only public support but also concerted efforts by all political forces in carrying out reforms," the President said.
In order to better integrate into NATO and strengthen its own and regional security, Georgia must implement a package of reforms, which includes constitutional, judicial and prosecution reforms. In addition, it needs to strengthen cooperation with civil society and NGOs.
According to the President, Lithuania supports Georgia's efforts to join NATO. We have already developed close cooperation with this country in the field of defense – a Georgian representative works in the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence, a Lithuanian officer has joined the recently opened NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center in Tbilisi and Georgian representatives take part in joint NATO exercises.
Georgia is among the most active NATO partners and an important country in strengthening the security of the whole region and international stability. Georgia has participated in NATO operations in Kosovo and in the Mediterranean and is still engaged in operations in Afghanistan.
Back in 2008, the NATO summit in Bucharest announced that Georgia would become a member of NATO when all the requirements were fulfilled. At the Wales summit last year, a comprehensive package of measures was proposed to Georgia to increase its defense capacities, reinforce training, exercises and liaison as well as deepen cooperation with NATO. As part of the Wales agreements, the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center was officially opened in Tbilisi at the end of August.
