Visit of First Deputy Defence Minister to Brussels
Thursday, February 19
The First Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Gocha Ratiani paid an official visit to Brussels. Gocha Ratiani attended the NATO-Georgia Professional Development Program (PDP) Steering Committee Meeting. He delivered a speech at the meeting and thanked the members of the Alliance for supporting Georgia. In his speech, the First Deputy Defence Minister talked about the ongoing reforms at the Defence Ministry, importance of implementation of NATO-Georgia Substantial Package, performance of the NATO-Georgia Professional Development Program and future priorities of the Defence Ministry.
According to Gocha Ratiani, transformation priorities for the next year will be: streamlining defence management system, developing defence capabilities, effective implementation of the NATO-Georgia Substantial Package and institutionalization of defence system.
Deputy Defence Minister focused on importance of establishment of NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre and the Defence Institution Building School. He drew attention to prospects of development of the Professional Development Center.
In the framework of a three-day visit, Gocha Ratiani met with NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Jonathan Parish, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Marriet Schuurman and representatives of the Building Integrity Team.
