Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov.11 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
The Afghan peacekeeping operation is set to include a large contingent of personnel from Georgia making it the biggest contribution from any single country in 2012, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a joint press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Batumi.
"Next year, you will have the largest representation in Afghanistan. Without any limit you have assumed a commitment making Georgia's representation even more significant. You are a key member of the ISAF and I want to thank you for it," Mr Rasmussen said.
During the press conference, Mr Rasmussen touched upon the reforms in Georgia and said that over the past eight years the country has made significant progress in many spheres. In turn, Mr Saakashvili said no one can stop Georgia's integration now into NATO.
"I hope that the Georgian side's readiness to protect peace and stability, as well as shoulder much more than it should, will make Georgia an important partner of NATO," he said.
Mr Saakashvili said Georgia is proud of its soldiers who know exactly what they are fighting for in Afghanistan. The country should go a long way to being able to join NATO and this way is not an easy one. During the meeting Mr Saakashvili thanked the NATO delegation for its visit to Georgia.