Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28
Trend:
NATO continues urging Georgia to continue the dialogue with Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during his visit to Tbilisi, Sputnik reported.
"Establishing a joint Georgian-NATO training center is not directed against any country," he said.
The Georgia-NATO Joint Training Center opened at the Krtsanisi National Training Centre, on the outskirts of Tbilisi Aug. 27. Stoltenberg attended the opening ceremony.
"NATO and I continue urging Georgia to continue the dialogue with Russia," he said. "The defense, gradual policy, firm position and dialogue do not contradict each other. Russia will continue to be a great neighbor of Georgia in the future this way or another. But the dialogue will be always required."
He also said that Russia's recent destructive and provocative actions in the region do not improve the security.
As for a joint training center, the secretary general reiterated that the center is not directed against any country.
"On the contrary, the center is being established to further strengthen the regional and international security," he said. "This is our common way. We help Georgia in preparing for NATO membership. Of course, there is much to be done but Georgia has already achieved success."
Large-scale military action was launched between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008.
Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Edited by CN