Lithuania supports Georgia's NATO aspirations

Speaking during a press conference Vilnius, Georgian Defence Minister Tinatin Khidashel said Georgia deserves NATO membership because of its reforms and participation in its operations. 

"If there is any country out there in the world, which deserves NATO membership, that would be Georgia," she said.

Georgia has asked NATO to provide it with a Membership Action Plan during 2016’s Warsaw summit. 

The plan would be a significant step towards fully-fledged membership, however, it is still unclear which Western countries nations will approve it.

"Getting MAP is not the dream of Georgia, the dream of Georgia is becoming a member of NATO," she added.

Khidashel also expressed hope that the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in December will assess the progress made by Georgia and its participation in NATO operations.

Khidasheli also said Georgia wanted to join the Alliance and the European Union (EU) in response to the changing security situation.

"As long as freedom is expanding, then authoritarian rule stops.

“Freedom is occupying larger territories, there is no rule for aggression. 

“But when we say that okay, that is where free land ends, authoritarian rule, aggression and occupation take over. 

“I believe that the free world can not allow that and there will be a possibility to prove it,” she concluded.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas, in his turn, said Lithuania supported Georgia's aspiration of joining NATO.

"Lithuania continuously supports Georgia and is one of the most consistent Georgian supporters," he said.

He believes Georgia's territorial clashes with Russia should not be an obstacle on its path to the Alliance.

Russia recognised independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the 2008 war. 

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