Geocase hosts online discussion ''More West in the Black Sea Region: Realities and Opportunities''
Georgian think-tank Geocase hosted a virtual discussion – “More West in the Black Sea Region: Realities and Opportunities”.Victor Kipiani, the Chairman of Geocase moderated the online discussion focused on the opportunities that Georgia faces in the current to the regional and geopolitical setting. He emphasized that, "new threats and challenges always present new opportunities. It depends on human beings' creativity and depends on the boldness of respective decisions and depends on catching the right momentum. The West is not as present in the region as it should be."
During the meeting, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges (Retired), Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis; Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze (Retired), former Chief of Defence and Military Representative of Georgia in NATO and EU, and Research Fellow at Geocase Dr. Khatuna Burkadze discussed the challenges facing the South Caucasus region and perspectives of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
The former commander of US ground forces in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, believes that Georgia should be invited to join NATO right now, claiming that “all the Black Sea nations have to put their voices together in Washington and Brussels and build advocacy the way the three Baltic countries did.”
During discussion, Major General Kapanadze emphasized that “Russia has begun to weaken its position in the Caucasus, but this does not make it any less dangerous for small countries.”
Dr. Khatuna Burkadze noted: “Euro-Atlantic integration brings security and stability to countries and regions. Georgia has made progress in Euro-Atlantic integration, showing a strong commitment of the Georgian people toward the shared values. Our brave soldiers are maintaining international peace and security together with our partners.” Dr. Burkadze emphasized: “the analysis of the current situation illustrates that Georgia’s integration into NATO should be accelerated to deliver the promise made at the Bucharest Summit twelve years ago”.
Concluding the virtual discussion, Geocase Chairman Victor Kipiani noted that now it is a turning point for the region to make qualitatively new decisions. Referring to global challenge of the pandemics, Mr. Kipiani stressed, that "both Georgia and the West must take timely effective steps in favor of common interests. It is important to act quickly and adequately so that we do not fall behind the dynamics of events".
See online discussion recording at: “More West in the Black Sea Region: Realities and Opportunities” https://bit.ly/39IOCUS
The information published above was shared by the organization.
