NATO urges Russia to withdraw troops from Georgia

By Davit Kachkachishvili

TBILISI

NATO on Friday urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgian territory.

Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's deputy secretary-general met Georgian Foreign Minister David Dondua during his official visit to Tbilisi.

In a joint news conference following the meeting, Gottemoeller confirmed NATO support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

Gottemoeller stressed NATO was concerned with Russia's constant strengthening of military activities in the Black Sea region and that the security of the region should be a priority.

"NATO fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. We call on Russia to withdraw troops from your country,” she said.

"We call on Georgia to proceed on its chosen way because it will surely become a NATO member," she added.

Dondua stated that Georgia had taken effective steps for a NATO integration.

Gottemoeller also met with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia, self-declared independent states, are disputed areas between Russia and Georgia.

Moscow recognized the independence of the Georgian breakaway regions after a six-day war with Georgia in 2008.

The only UN member states to recognize the breakaway regions are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru.