28 Mar 2019 18:53

NATO hails Azerbaijan's participation in exercise in Georgia

TBILISI. March 28 (Interfax) - NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation Adm. Manfred Nielson visiting Tbilisi hailed Azerbaijan's participation in the NATO-Geo Exercise 2019 in Georgia.

At a joint press conference with Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria on Thursday Nielson said Azerbaijan is Georgia's neighbor and the participation of Azerbaijani servicemen in the exercise is "a strong signal" that the two countries are acting together in the military sphere.

Izoria also thanked Azerbaijan for taking part in the command post exercise.

"The fact that the Azerbaijani side is involved in the exercise is one more clear confirmation that we are jointly doing our utmost to strengthen security and stability in the region," the minister said.

The NATO-Geo Exercise 2019 started in Georgia on March 18 and will end on Friday.

On Thursday journalists were told at the Georgian Defense Ministry that Nielson inspected the course of the exercise.

Earlier reports said that the exercise involves over 350 servicemen from 24 NATO member-countries and partners of the alliance. Members of the NATO Military Committee and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also checked the course of the exercise in Georgia this week.