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Germany backs strengthening of Georgian-NATO partnership

This is the first visit to Georgia by the German foreign minister. In the evening Westerwelle will fly to Yerevan

TBILISI, March 15 (Itar-Tass) — Germany backs the strengthening of partnership between Georgia and NATO, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

Speaking at a joint news briefing with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze on Thursday, Westerwelle said, “Certain results will be achieved at the NATO summit in Chicago in relation to strengthening partnership between Georgia and the Alliance.”

“Now I cannot comment on any details because NATO takes decisions collectively. I can only say Germany’s attitude towards this issue is clear: the Bucharest summit’s decision on Georgia’s membership remains in force,” the German minister said.

Westerwelle also said, “Germany supports Georgia’s territorial integrity, membership in European structures and the talks with the EU on visa-free travel for Georgian citizens and on free trade.”

The German foreign minister arrived in Tbilisi on Thursday within his South Caucasian tour. He met with President Mikhail Saakashvili and his Georgian counterpart. Before the departure Westerwelle will confer with students and professors of Tbilisi State University.

This is the first visit to Georgia by the German foreign minister. In the evening Westerwelle will fly to Yerevan.

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Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

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West views Europe as potential theater of military operations — Lukashenko

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Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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Russian cosmonauts begin first spacewalk in 2024

Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub are expected to spend 6 hours and 52 minutes outside the orbital outpost

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Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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TASS, SMI2 to launch positive content aggregator on Internet

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Industrial Development Fund will get additional capitalization of 300 bln rubles — Putin

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

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Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

Number of houses affected by floods in Russia down to 15,280

The trend of the falling number of household plots affected by the flood also persists

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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US nuclear facilities in Northern Europe to become targets in Russia-NATO clash — MFA

Maria Zakharova warned that if US nuclear weapons were deployed to Northern Europe, "the security of the countries hosting these weapons will by no means get stronger, but on the contrary be harmed"