Stoltenberg hopes Georgia will become NATO member

TBILISI. March 18 (Interfax) - Georgia is one of NATO's closest partners, and NATO fully supports its sovereignty and territorial integrity, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a briefing in Tbilisi.

"And today we discussed [with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze] how to develop it [the partnership] even further," Stoltenberg said. The discussion addressed a number of specific programs, in particular, "crisis management, cyber security, and military engineering," he said.

As an example of NATO-Georgia cooperation, Stoltenberg mentioned the recent visit by a Turkish military frigate to Batumi, where an exchange of experience with the Georgian military took place.

This cooperation is continuing, and envisages the implementation of "the 2008 Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of the NATO Alliance," Stoltenberg said.

Reforms that ensure free and fair elections should continue in Georgia, he said.

Kobakhidze told a joint briefing with Stoltenberg that Georgia has been actively involved in operations under NATO's aegis and has contributed to strengthening global security for years.

"NATO, for its part, has played and is playing an important role in developing Georgia's defense capabilities," Kobakhidze said.

Stoltenberg is visiting the countries of the South Caucasus. After visiting Azerbaijan and Georgia, he will pay a visit to Armenia.