Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan.21 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Tbilisi hosted a special reception in connection with the assignment of NATO contact functions to Lithuania in the relations with Georgia.
Within the next two years the Lithuanian Embassy will serve as a mediator between Georgia and the Alliance.
At the event, Lithuanian Ambassador Jonas Paslauskas welcomed the resolution adopted by the European parliament. He considers use of the term "occupation" in the resolution as an important fact and urges other states to follow this example in introducing the correct terminology regarding Georgia.
The ambassador said that the spread of the "occupation" term will contribute to the restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the European integration process.
"I have not seen the exact text of the resolution, but the term "occupation" is not a surprise for me. The Lithuanian parliament adopted a resolution with the use of this term even earlier. This means that Lithuania is one of the first countries who used the correct term towards your conflicts. This word was written not only in the European parliament's resolution, but also in the documents of the European consulate and other partner countries, which should be welcomed. Gradually, the term "occupation" is spread more, and this means that the truth about these territories is spread," Paslauskas said.
At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Dec. 2-3, 2008, in Brussels, NATO member countries considered Tbilisi unprepared to receive the status of candidate member of NATO and postponed presenting the Action Plan on NATO membership to an indefinite period. For the first time, Georgia's application for MAP in the alliance had been rejected at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008. Then it was negotiated that the country will become a member of the bloc.