Georgia, Tbilisi, September 10 /Trend, N.Kirtskhalia/
NATO communications office will soon be opened in Georgia, which will promote greater rapprochement of Georgia with the North Atlantic Alliance. The legal basis for this will be created due to an agreement between NATO and Georgia on the establishment of the communication office, its status and staff, which was discussed at the joint meeting of the parliamentary committees on defense and security, European integration and relations with compatriots.
A source at the Parliament of Georgia told Trend that made by the President for ratification, the document was presented to MPs by president's deputy parliamentary secretary Irakli Gorduladze. He said the agreement was signed at NATO on August 23 this year and in Georgia - Sept. 2. Its goal is to create conditions and legal basis for opening a communications office of the alliance in Georgia.
The MPs unanimously supported the document. As noted at the meeting, the agreement will assist in the effective implementation of decisions of the Strasbourg and Bucharest summits of NATO and ongoing programs, as well as accelerate the process of integration into the alliance.
According to the document, the NATO communications office and its staff are assigned to the privileges and immunities under the 1961Vienna Convention, that is, they are exempt from criminal liability, taxes and customs duties.
According to Gorduladze, it will allow NATO personnel to freely and promptly implement the commitments with regards to Georgia.