VILNIUS - Georgian Defense Minister Georgy Baramidze, who is currently visiting Lithuania, said that he welcomed Lithuania's commitment to support Georgia's efforts to seek membership in NATO and the European Union.
"Lithuania's assistance on the road to NATO is important for Georgia. We are willing to come the way Lithuania has already come," Baramidze said. "It is important for us that we have a friend, Lithuania, which is a member of the EU and NATO."
Baramidze made the statement while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Defense Minister Linas Linkevicius, prior to which the ministers signed an agreement on Georgian military officers' studies at the Lithuanian Military Academy.
Linkevicius said that the south Caucasus region was a priority region to both the EU and NATO. He stressed that during the NATO summit meeting in Istanbul, the southern Caucasus had been singled out as a priority region.
"Lithuania has much to say, much to show, therefore Georgia is supported," Linkevicius said.
The minister noted that Lithuania would continue to provide bilateral assistance to Georgia, which included training of military officers. One officer studied at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu this year. Next year, two officers will study at the college.
Since 2001, Lithuania has paid for the studies of the Caucasian region's military officers at the Baltic Defense College. It has already sponsored Georgian officers' studies at the college and will pay for studies of military officers from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan this academic year. Two Georgian officers have completed international captain courses and English-language courses at the Lithuanian Military Academy.
The Georgian defense minister also met with President Valdas Adamkus on July 19.
In the words of the president's spokeswoman, Adamkus stressed at the meeting that it would be easier for Georgia to integrate into international structures since, in the president's words, Lithuania has already broken the ice.
The president invited Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to come to Lithuania.
The bilateral military cooperation agreement between Georgia and Lithuania was signed in 2001.
Baramidze became defense minister last fall following the Rose Revolution, when President Eduard Shevarnadze resigned amid peaceful protests in the streets of Tbilisi.
