Georgian, Lithuanian Defense Chiefs Discuss NATO Integration

Lithuanian Defense Minister Rasa Jukneviciene, visiting Tbilisi, provided a boost for Georgia's efforts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

En route from Afghanistan to Lithuania, Rasa Jukneviciene met late on March 30 with her Georgian counterpart Davit Sikharulidze at Tbilisi Airport. The pair discussed possible Lithuanian technical assistance in helping the Georgian military to achieve compatibility with NATO standards, Georgian television reported. The two ministers also discussed Georgia's plans to join the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, according to a report broadcast by the Rustavi-2 television channel.

Jukneviciene no doubt cheered her hosts by endorsing Tbilisi's ongoing desire to join NATO. "Sooner or later, Georgia and Ukraine will be full members of the alliance," Jukneviciene said.