WEBVTT 00:15.940 --> 00:19.550 good afternoon on Welcome . We will 00:19.550 --> 00:21.680 have statements by the secretary 00:21.680 --> 00:23.736 general and then the president , and 00:23.736 --> 00:25.847 then we should have time for a couple 00:25.847 --> 00:25.590 of questions . Secretary General , 00:25.590 --> 00:26.590 please , 00:30.030 --> 00:33.200 President . Suitable is really There's 00:33.200 --> 00:35.070 Salome . Welcome back to NATO 00:35.070 --> 00:37.126 headquarters . It's great to see you 00:37.126 --> 00:39.160 here again on your presence 00:39.170 --> 00:41.820 demonstrates once again the close 00:41.830 --> 00:44.870 partnership between Georgia on the 00:45.280 --> 00:48.740 NATO . Georgia is one of 00:48.750 --> 00:52.580 NATO's most important partners . We 00:52.580 --> 00:55.180 have a close political partnership on 00:55.190 --> 00:57.770 strong practical cooperation . 00:58.530 --> 01:01.670 Despite the challenges off the coveted 01:01.670 --> 01:05.030 19 pandemic , NATO and Georgia continue 01:05.030 --> 01:07.760 to strengthen our partnership on 01:07.760 --> 01:10.110 today's meeting off the NATO Georgia 01:10.110 --> 01:14.110 Commission Way will take stock 01:14.110 --> 01:16.660 of our achievements and it says what 01:16.660 --> 01:20.640 more we can do together . Last year we 01:20.650 --> 01:23.850 upgraded the substantial NATO Georgia 01:23.850 --> 01:26.630 package . This helps Georgia to 01:26.630 --> 01:29.300 implement reforms , enhance its ability 01:29.300 --> 01:32.140 to operate with allies . Ont continue 01:32.150 --> 01:34.350 to contribute to our shared security . 01:35.140 --> 01:38.470 Our key priorities include secure 01:38.480 --> 01:40.258 communications and actually the 01:40.258 --> 01:42.369 president and I discussed that during 01:42.369 --> 01:44.670 the meeting today training and 01:44.680 --> 01:47.880 exercises on enhancing our marathon 01:47.880 --> 01:51.580 support on situational awareness . 01:52.720 --> 01:54.800 Today , we will also address the 01:54.800 --> 01:56.850 security situation in the Black Sea 01:56.860 --> 02:00.270 region on Russia's continued military 02:00.270 --> 02:03.720 buildup . NATO supports Georgia's 02:03.730 --> 02:06.670 territorial integrity on sovereignty 02:06.680 --> 02:09.110 within its internationally recognized 02:09.120 --> 02:12.570 borders . We continue to call on Russia , 02:12.570 --> 02:15.360 toe end its recognition off the 02:15.370 --> 02:17.890 region's off Karsa and southwest Asia 02:18.020 --> 02:21.810 on to withdraw its forces on . And I 02:21.810 --> 02:24.430 took good note off the ruling by the 02:24.430 --> 02:27.250 European Court of Human Rights . It 02:27.250 --> 02:29.760 confirms that that Russia is 02:29.770 --> 02:32.860 responsible for human rights violations 02:32.870 --> 02:36.800 in Abkhazia and South Ossetia . On 02:36.800 --> 02:39.750 that Russia exercises control there . 02:40.540 --> 02:44.540 It only strengthens our call for 02:44.540 --> 02:48.060 Russia to comply with international law 02:48.070 --> 02:50.660 and respect Georgia's territorial 02:50.670 --> 02:54.630 integrity . In our meeting , we also 02:54.630 --> 02:57.090 discussed the progress Georgia is 02:57.090 --> 03:00.400 making on the forms . This is crucial 03:00.560 --> 03:03.200 because progress on reforms brings you 03:03.200 --> 03:06.720 closer . Tow our shared gold membership 03:06.730 --> 03:10.420 off NATO . Today we addressed 03:10.430 --> 03:12.480 Georgia's commitment to arrested 03:12.480 --> 03:14.570 support mission in Afghanistan . 03:15.140 --> 03:17.540 Georgia has long been one of the 03:17.540 --> 03:21.130 largest troop contributors to NATO's 03:21.130 --> 03:23.550 training mission . We appreciate the 03:23.550 --> 03:25.780 professionalism off Georgia men and 03:25.780 --> 03:27.920 women in uniform on . We all know the 03:27.920 --> 03:31.800 sacrifices you have made . So Madam 03:31.800 --> 03:34.550 President , the Solomon Thank you for 03:34.550 --> 03:36.710 being here today for your strong 03:36.710 --> 03:39.720 personal commitment to NATO and to our 03:39.720 --> 03:42.130 partnership . NATO's partnership with 03:42.130 --> 03:45.220 Georgia makes us all safer and more 03:45.230 --> 03:49.020 secure , so please welcome . Thank 03:49.020 --> 03:51.760 you very much , Mr Secretary General , 03:52.240 --> 03:55.870 After almost a year when CO vid 03:56.040 --> 03:59.260 has diverted the most off , our 03:59.260 --> 04:02.100 attention has constrained in a way , 04:02.100 --> 04:05.420 diplomatic activity . Time has come to 04:05.420 --> 04:08.470 center again on our core interests 04:08.940 --> 04:10.950 around our common values , off 04:10.960 --> 04:13.360 solidarity and our common projects . 04:13.840 --> 04:15.720 Andi , I'm very glad to have the 04:15.720 --> 04:17.900 occasion at the beginning of this year 04:18.020 --> 04:21.820 to be here again . On to in that 04:21.820 --> 04:24.770 way show how much our priority for 04:24.780 --> 04:27.250 Georgia NATO Relation 04:27.870 --> 04:31.770 Inc is more than ever , actual . 04:32.310 --> 04:36.260 Facing all the new challenges we need 04:36.260 --> 04:38.350 all to look forward . We need new 04:38.350 --> 04:42.100 energy , mawr movement and more 04:42.100 --> 04:45.660 determination . A number of factors 04:45.670 --> 04:49.520 push us in that direction . And the 04:49.520 --> 04:52.560 fact that a new American administration 04:52.570 --> 04:56.280 eager to reaffirm its ties to NATO and 04:56.280 --> 04:58.780 its presence , we hope in the Black Sea 04:58.780 --> 05:01.820 and in the region is very important in 05:01.820 --> 05:04.540 our region . We have seen a new 05:04.540 --> 05:07.950 configuration of forces , which shows 05:07.950 --> 05:10.220 that even more than ever , the Black 05:10.220 --> 05:13.050 Sea and the caucuses are becoming more 05:13.050 --> 05:16.420 important for security and should draw 05:16.420 --> 05:19.150 even more attention and presence from 05:19.160 --> 05:23.150 NATO . New challenges asked 05:23.160 --> 05:26.290 to be overcome together off course 05:26.300 --> 05:30.260 covered 19 but also cybersecurity thes 05:30.260 --> 05:32.730 information and the continuation off 05:32.730 --> 05:34.620 the conflicts that we see on our 05:34.630 --> 05:37.590 occupied territories to name some of 05:37.590 --> 05:41.580 those need us to join forces . We hope 05:41.640 --> 05:43.960 and called for the solidarity from our 05:43.960 --> 05:47.170 partners individually and collectively 05:47.430 --> 05:49.652 when fighting these common challenges , 05:49.652 --> 05:51.990 including the pandemic , notably 05:51.990 --> 05:54.640 through allocation of vaccines or when 05:54.640 --> 05:57.540 trying to defend ourselves from renewed 05:57.820 --> 05:59.720 and more and more frequent cyber 05:59.720 --> 06:02.620 attacks and destabilization attempts . 06:04.110 --> 06:06.660 Despite the pandemic crisis , despite 06:06.670 --> 06:08.750 the conflict in our neighborhoods , 06:08.760 --> 06:11.500 despite the occupied territories and 06:11.510 --> 06:14.970 the increased provocations and efforts 06:14.970 --> 06:18.060 towards the facto annexation , Georgia 06:18.060 --> 06:20.890 has maintained stability not only on 06:20.890 --> 06:23.112 its territory but around it . In the in 06:23.112 --> 06:26.120 the region . Georgia stood firm , has 06:26.120 --> 06:28.600 pushed it's agenda of consolidating 06:28.600 --> 06:31.200 democracy internally through reforms 06:31.200 --> 06:33.630 and elections , and has proven once 06:33.630 --> 06:37.060 more its resilience . We value 06:37.540 --> 06:39.910 the constant support of our partners 06:40.130 --> 06:42.780 and a few Mr Secretary general , tow 06:42.780 --> 06:44.790 our territorial integrity , tow our 06:44.790 --> 06:47.330 sovereignty and to our strategic 06:47.330 --> 06:50.840 orientation . Georgia has continued 06:51.090 --> 06:53.390 thanks to this cooperation to enhance 06:53.390 --> 06:56.100 its defense capabilities , to increase 06:56.100 --> 06:59.320 standards and interoperability and to 06:59.320 --> 07:01.153 develop the practical tools that 07:01.153 --> 07:04.480 prepare for membership . Georgia values 07:04.490 --> 07:06.470 the importance of continued NATO 07:06.470 --> 07:09.600 exercises on its territory despite the 07:09.600 --> 07:11.600 constraints of the pandemic . As we 07:11.600 --> 07:14.250 have seen in 2020 we value the 07:14.250 --> 07:16.500 increased presence in the Black Sea and 07:16.510 --> 07:19.650 the port calls we value the importance 07:19.660 --> 07:22.810 of solidarity in taking our share off 07:22.810 --> 07:24.740 the burden of collective security 07:25.130 --> 07:27.790 through our participation to NATO led 07:27.800 --> 07:31.390 operations . We are more ready than 07:31.390 --> 07:33.790 ever to increase our efforts and 07:33.790 --> 07:36.450 performances and are grateful for the 07:36.460 --> 07:39.670 trust towards our country's aspirations . 07:39.840 --> 07:43.020 The new refreshed s ngp 07:43.220 --> 07:45.600 is a demonstration of that and the 07:45.600 --> 07:48.370 value tool raising the level of our 07:48.370 --> 07:51.190 cooperation and tailored to A with 07:51.190 --> 07:54.960 these new security challenges . But we 07:54.960 --> 07:57.380 need more . We trust the 07:57.380 --> 08:00.020 recommendations of the NATO 2030 New 08:00.020 --> 08:02.760 Era report will be taken up . 08:03.440 --> 08:05.440 Aspiring Georgia has shown its 08:05.440 --> 08:07.490 dedication to reaching the ultimate 08:07.490 --> 08:10.970 objective off integration and on that 08:10.980 --> 08:13.570 past , its resilience in front of the 08:13.570 --> 08:16.250 new challenges . Time has come for the 08:16.250 --> 08:19.920 alliance to have more solidarity and 08:19.920 --> 08:22.390 more audacity . Thank you , Mr 08:22.390 --> 08:24.610 Secretary General , we have time . I 08:24.610 --> 08:26.721 think for two quick questions . First 08:26.721 --> 08:28.832 of all , we go to 11 Mahalia from the 08:28.832 --> 08:32.390 Georgian public broadcaster . Thank you . 08:32.390 --> 08:34.790 Good afternoon , Secretary General 08:34.800 --> 08:37.590 Madam President . I'm lamanna from 08:37.590 --> 08:39.757 Georgia and public broadcaster . So my 08:39.757 --> 08:41.979 question is for secretary general , you 08:41.979 --> 08:44.370 US president announced the plan for 08:44.370 --> 08:46.148 strengthening the alien systems 08:46.148 --> 08:49.210 partners lesson State Secretary Nominee 08:49.220 --> 08:52.160 wrote Not to do is open for Georgia if 08:52.160 --> 08:54.380 it can contribute to the Atlantic 08:54.380 --> 08:56.770 security . Give us more in 08:56.770 --> 08:58.790 understanding . What do you expect 08:58.800 --> 09:00.460 Georgia do ? Essentially , 09:02.840 --> 09:05.970 First of all , I very much welcome the 09:05.970 --> 09:08.440 strong commitment by the United States 09:08.440 --> 09:10.650 to rebuilding alliances and also 09:10.650 --> 09:14.230 working with partners on board . I 09:14.230 --> 09:16.990 cannot speak on behalf of the new US 09:16.990 --> 09:20.060 administration , but I I know President 09:20.060 --> 09:22.004 Biden is a strong supporter of the 09:22.004 --> 09:24.150 transatlantic bond , and Georgia is 09:24.150 --> 09:26.900 part off that transatlantic bond . 09:26.910 --> 09:29.270 North America and Europe , working 09:29.280 --> 09:31.790 together on the United States , have 09:31.800 --> 09:33.820 over many years pushed for 09:33.910 --> 09:36.220 strengthening . The partnership on the 09:36.230 --> 09:38.400 United States has also clearly 09:38.400 --> 09:40.900 supported the NATO decisions were all 09:40.900 --> 09:44.190 made together , uh , also on the issue 09:44.190 --> 09:47.360 off membership off Georgia into NATO . 09:47.840 --> 09:49.951 I think what you have to realize that 09:49.951 --> 09:52.700 is that despite pandemic , we have been 09:52.710 --> 09:55.610 able to continue to strengthen our 09:55.900 --> 09:58.460 political on practical cooperation . 09:58.840 --> 10:02.660 We have had a substantial , uh , 10:02.670 --> 10:06.240 political dialogue over the last year 10:06.300 --> 10:08.840 with meetings off the NATO Georgia 10:08.850 --> 10:11.930 Commission . Last September , I met 10:11.940 --> 10:14.051 with the Georgia and Prime minister , 10:14.051 --> 10:16.340 Georgian Foreign minister on also 10:16.350 --> 10:18.310 NATO's foreign ministers met with 10:18.320 --> 10:21.480 Georgia's Foreign Minister Uhh to 10:21.480 --> 10:25.240 discuss Black Sea security aan den as 10:25.240 --> 10:28.880 the president referred to , we have , 10:28.890 --> 10:32.020 uh , strengthen our substantial 10:32.030 --> 10:35.140 package . Eso We can also further 10:35.140 --> 10:37.960 strengthen our practical cooperation . 10:38.340 --> 10:41.160 We have the NATO liaison office in 10:41.170 --> 10:44.510 Tbilisi . We have the joint training on 10:44.520 --> 10:48.260 Revelation Center on with enhanced 10:48.260 --> 10:51.270 package . We are focusing on different 10:51.270 --> 10:54.060 things but including the implementation 10:54.060 --> 10:56.720 of secure communications projects . 10:57.040 --> 10:59.480 Continued support to the joint Training 10:59.490 --> 11:03.090 on Revelation Center on Guard Mawr , 11:03.100 --> 11:07.060 NATO Georgia exercises in 2022 11:07.440 --> 11:09.830 On top of that , you also , uh , 11:09.840 --> 11:11.896 further strengthen what to do in the 11:11.896 --> 11:14.007 maritime domain and NATO has provided 11:14.007 --> 11:15.951 some support to your Coast Guard . 11:15.951 --> 11:17.840 We're now looking into how we can 11:17.840 --> 11:19.951 further strengthen that cooperation . 11:20.040 --> 11:22.460 What Georgia can do is to continue to 11:22.460 --> 11:25.560 implement reforms . We need a 11:25.940 --> 11:29.010 strong democratic institutions . 11:29.140 --> 11:30.600 We need , 11:30.610 --> 11:34.440 uh , to make sure that we 11:34.440 --> 11:37.170 have modern on capable security 11:37.170 --> 11:39.720 institutions on , of course , civilian 11:39.730 --> 11:41.910 control over both the military and the 11:41.910 --> 11:44.620 intelligence services on all these 11:44.620 --> 11:47.510 issues were working together . Onda 11:47.520 --> 11:51.090 reform is the key effort , The 11:51.090 --> 11:54.910 key a task for Georgia as he 11:54.910 --> 11:58.540 moved towards NATO membership have time 11:58.550 --> 12:00.661 for one more question will go to Teri 12:00.661 --> 12:02.717 Schultz from Deutsche Avella . Thank 12:02.717 --> 12:05.780 you very much for your time . Uh , Mr 12:05.780 --> 12:08.450 Secretary General , the new start 12:08.450 --> 12:10.617 treaty , despite the U . S . Intention 12:10.617 --> 12:12.672 to ask for an extension isn't a done 12:12.672 --> 12:14.561 deal yet . First of all , are you 12:14.561 --> 12:17.100 concerned that Russia may come up with 12:17.100 --> 12:19.300 a reason not to extend ? Despite it , 12:19.310 --> 12:21.310 it's signaling that it that it also 12:21.310 --> 12:23.421 wants to extend for five years . What 12:23.421 --> 12:25.643 are the stakes for European allies ? If 12:25.643 --> 12:27.532 by some chance the last remaining 12:27.532 --> 12:29.699 nuclear arms control treaty would fall 12:29.699 --> 12:31.921 apart and above all , are you concerned 12:31.921 --> 12:34.180 about being able to verify the treaty ? 12:34.190 --> 12:37.350 Um , despite the mechanisms that are 12:37.350 --> 12:39.780 built into it , we've seen treaty after 12:39.780 --> 12:42.090 treaty crumble because of a lack of 12:42.090 --> 12:45.020 trust between the West , the U . S . 12:45.030 --> 12:47.270 And Russia . Are you worried that once 12:47.270 --> 12:49.437 again , there would be violations that 12:49.437 --> 12:51.437 could be dangerous for Europe ? And 12:51.437 --> 12:53.326 Madam President , I would also be 12:53.326 --> 12:55.690 interested in your thoughts on having 12:55.690 --> 12:57.746 to keep alive this last remaining US 12:57.746 --> 12:59.801 Russian arms control pact . Thanks . 13:00.340 --> 13:03.720 Help . I welcome President Biden's 13:03.720 --> 13:06.940 announcement on his intention to 13:06.940 --> 13:10.850 seek on extension off the new 13:10.850 --> 13:14.460 start treaty . I have stated repeatedly 13:14.460 --> 13:17.200 that we should not end up in a 13:17.200 --> 13:20.650 situation where we have no agreement , 13:20.660 --> 13:23.050 no limitation whatsoever on the number 13:23.050 --> 13:26.080 off a nuclear warheads on , therefore , 13:26.090 --> 13:29.160 a necks tension off the new start 13:29.170 --> 13:31.890 treaty . It's important because unless 13:31.900 --> 13:34.900 it is extended , it will expire on the 13:34.900 --> 13:38.280 fifth off February . Uh , NATO allies 13:38.280 --> 13:40.230 have made it clear that they all 13:40.230 --> 13:43.930 support the new start agreement 13:43.940 --> 13:47.810 because it has Bean also such a great 13:47.810 --> 13:50.110 importance for all of us . Uh , NATO 13:50.110 --> 13:52.280 has bean on the forefront of arms 13:52.280 --> 13:55.180 control for decades . Onda 13:55.190 --> 13:57.720 way have seen that the myself . Some 13:57.730 --> 13:59.840 other treaties , including the n F 13:59.840 --> 14:03.200 treaty we should avoid and prevent the 14:03.200 --> 14:06.550 demise of the new start treaty . Having 14:06.550 --> 14:09.910 said that the extension of the new 14:09.910 --> 14:13.340 start treaty is not the end , it should 14:13.340 --> 14:15.790 be the beginning off . Renewed efforts 14:15.790 --> 14:17.960 to strengthen international arms 14:17.960 --> 14:21.060 control to look into how we can cover 14:21.070 --> 14:23.800 more weapons systems on also include 14:23.810 --> 14:26.860 mawr nations . For instance , China 14:27.440 --> 14:31.250 Ah , I call on Russia to respond in a 14:31.260 --> 14:34.830 positive way too . The U S uh 14:34.840 --> 14:38.160 proposal thistles bilateral agreement 14:38.170 --> 14:40.890 between the United States on Russia . 14:40.900 --> 14:44.580 The United States has consulted closely 14:44.580 --> 14:48.310 with NATO allies on the new starch on 14:48.310 --> 14:51.390 the possibility off extending the 14:51.390 --> 14:54.840 treaty on by Onda . I'm confident that 14:55.090 --> 14:57.034 the United States will continue to 14:57.034 --> 14:59.210 consult closely with allies on arms 14:59.210 --> 15:01.420 control in general on new start . In 15:01.430 --> 15:03.790 particular , verification is , of 15:03.790 --> 15:06.940 course , of great importance . So as we , 15:06.950 --> 15:09.420 uh , work on how to strengthen and 15:09.420 --> 15:13.240 enhance arms control uh , the 15:13.240 --> 15:15.550 issue of covering war weapon systems , 15:15.560 --> 15:18.690 the issue off , including mawr nations . 15:18.690 --> 15:20.912 But also , of course , the verification 15:20.912 --> 15:23.134 would be one of the key issues that has 15:23.134 --> 15:26.950 to be addressed in the future , as's 15:26.950 --> 15:29.560 for us . Of course , we're not part to 15:29.580 --> 15:31.580 any of those discussions , but it's 15:31.580 --> 15:33.800 very clear for a small country and a 15:33.800 --> 15:35.856 small country in the region where we 15:35.856 --> 15:37.911 are , and especially at this time in 15:37.911 --> 15:39.744 that region , uh , that whatever 15:39.744 --> 15:42.910 constraints the militarization off the 15:42.910 --> 15:46.010 region and off some of the , uh , big 15:46.010 --> 15:48.050 powers that are around us is very 15:48.050 --> 15:51.750 important . Arms control is always a 15:51.760 --> 15:54.050 positive development . But knowing as 15:54.050 --> 15:57.530 we know Russia from closer , uh , it's 15:57.530 --> 16:00.490 very clear that what is key is 16:00.490 --> 16:03.340 monitoring is verification is not 16:03.350 --> 16:07.260 taking words as granted on uh , 16:07.270 --> 16:09.500 under that condition , it becomes a 16:09.500 --> 16:13.130 very important instrument for which We 16:13.130 --> 16:16.300 would be very thankful if that happens , 16:16.300 --> 16:19.820 but with maximum control , I'm afraid 16:19.820 --> 16:22.042 that's all we have time for . Thank you 16:22.042 --> 16:24.320 very much , Sector general . Thank you , 16:24.320 --> 16:23.270 Madam President .