Open letter of Georgian Civil Society Organizations To the North Atlantic Council and NATO Secretary General

News | Statements 23 June 2016

Returning Georgia to the European family of nations is a historic mission for our generation. Completing Georgia’s integration into Euro-Atlantic Institutions, including NATO, is an essential part of this process.

 

Since its very beginning, the Euro-Atlantic integration process played a critical role in steering Georgia toward a modern, democratic and secure society. It provided powerful incentives for developing state institutions, advancing democracy, and transforming the national security system.

 

Georgia still has much more work to do in building a modern, democratic, and prosperous state. It still faces challenges, both internal and external. During the last decade, Georgian citizens proved their dedication to the democratic transformation and modernization of the country. Their continuous support to Georgia’s substantial participation in NATO-led peace operations ensured country’s transformation into a significant contributor to international security. The idea of Georgia’s NATO membership also enjoys overwhelming support in Georgian population.

 

We believe that our country’s membership in NATO will positively affect the process of Georgian statecraft, as well as contribute to security and stability in the wider region. It will also strengthen peace and encourage democratic transformation, empower democratic forces on much broader scale, and thus, advance the interests of the entire Transatlantic community.

 

A comprehensive strategic vision for the future of Europe and consistency in its implementation would strengthen European security, encourage sustainable economic and democratic development, and ultimately lead towards Europe whole, free and at peace. Georgia’s accession to NATO will advance the process of achieving this great vision.

 

Russian revisionism, conversely, has a radically different goal. It challenges solidarity among European nations and targets the fundamental values that define European identity. Safeguarding these values, national sovereignty and the freedom of all European countries to choose their own security arrangements is the only way to avoid backsliding to Europe devoid of solidarity and divided into spheres of influence.

 

In 2008, NATO made a strategic, visionary decision that Georgia will become a NATO member. In the face of the new threats and challenges to European security, the Warsaw Summit is the key milestone to demonstrate to NATO supporters and adversaries alike the steadfast dedication of Allies’ to implement the decisions previously adopted. Recent developments have clearly shown that any delay in pursuing the strategic goals of the Alliance is interpreted by Russia as a weakness. This, in turn, invites further aggressive and revisionist behavior that Russia has been demonstrating in Georgia and Ukraine since 2008.

 

We truly believe that what Georgia needs now is a clear roadmap towards NATO membership agreed at the NATO Warsaw Summit. This would serve Euro-Atlantic security interests and further advance the principles on which the Alliance was founded.

 

We also hope that decisions taken in Warsaw will support concrete measures aimed at deterring Russian aggression and reinforcing Georgia’s security.

 

We anticipate that Warsaw Summit decisions will create a stronger and more holistic structure for NATO-Georgia political and military cooperation, fully utilizing existing mechanisms, incorporating real substance, and ensuring the commitment and engagement of all allies in strengthening Georgian democracy, its institutional reforms, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

The signatory organizations:

 

Atlantic Council of Georgia (ACG)

Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS)

Transparency International Georgia

Economic Policy Research Center

Strategic Research Center

Georgian Center for Security and Development

Georgian Institute of Politics

Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS)

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)

Georgia’s Reforms Associate (GRASS)

Civil Development Agency (CiDA)

Civil Council on Defence and Security

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

New Economic School – Georgia

Georgian Farmers’ Association

International Business and Economic Development Centre

Human Rights Centre (HRIDC)

Foundation “Caucasus Environment”

Association of Tea Producers of Georgia “Georgian Tea”

Center of Development and Democracy

Bridge of Friendship – Kartlosi

Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group

IDP Women Association “Consent”,

Local Democracy Agency

“Women Enterprise” Fund Georgia

Cultural-Humanitarian Fund ‘’Sukhumi”

Georgian Association “Woman in Business”

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Association ‘’Peaceful and Business Caucasus”

Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, Violence and Pronounced Stress Impact – EMPATHY

Association “MERKURI”

Journalist Resource Center

Intstitute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflicts (ISNC)

Association for the Efficient Use of the Georgian Energy Resources

‘’Student-Youth Council”

Association European Studies for the Innovative Development of Georgia (ESIDG)

Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG)

Repatriates’ Union

Association “Atinati”

World Experience for Georgia

PHDS

Union “Anti-Violence Network of Georgia”

International Society “Caucasian Mosaic”

Biological Farming Association “Elkana”

Georgian Center for Geopolitical Studies

Media Development Fund

Society and Banks

In depth Reporting and Advocacy Center, web platform eugeorgia.info

Lanchkhuti Informational Center (Lanchkhuti)

Kartlosi (Gori)

For Better Future (Tserovani)

Civil Initiatives Association (Akhaltsikhe)

SIQA – Georgian Associations of Educational Initiatives (Rustavi)

The Imereti Scientists’ Union “Spectri” (Kutaisi)

We for Sensible Future (Tserovani)

Atinati (Zugdidi)

Demosi (Rustavi)

Asscociation “Tolerance” (Akhaltsikhe)

Accociation for Civil Society Development “Spectri” (Sagarejo)

Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti Municipality Resource Center (Ambrolauri)

Anti-Violence Network in Georgia – Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Committee (Mtskheta)

Association “Dea” (Zugdidi)

Association “Imedi” IDP Woman Movement for Peace (Zugdidi)

Georgian Democratic Development Union (Ozurgeti)

Indigo (Rustavi)

Development Fund for Tkibuli Region (Tkibuli)

Step for Kharagauli (Kharagauli)

Dusheti Development Fund (Dusheti)

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