Georgian Foreign Minister holds bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Session in Brussels

On the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Session on the situation in Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili held a number of bilateral meetings at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

On 19 August 2008, the Georgian Foreign Minister met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Bernard Kouchner, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Ivailo Kalfin and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre.

The same day a working dinner was held with the foreign Ministers of the New Group of Friends. The Georgian Foreign Minister also met with OSCE Chairman-in-office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Alexander Stubb and High Representative of the Common and Security Policy of the European Union Javier Solana.

During these meetings, Minister Tkeshelashvili provided her foreign colleagues with exhaustive information on the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Georgia and the ongoing occupation. It was underlined that Russia continues naval and transport blockade disrupting military as well as civilian infrastructure and inflicting irreparable economic damage on the country.

The foreign diplomats unequivocally reaffirmed their support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the necessity of Russia’s unconditional compliance with its commitments under the ceasefire agreement, envisaging, in particular, immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the Georgian territory. The Alliance member states were unanimous in pledging their support for Georgia in various important fields.

The countries also expressed their readiness for active involvement in terms of providing humanitarian assistance and carrying out restoration works on the territory of Georgia.