Former Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Tedo Japaridze, writes that Georgia is no longer willing to be defined in “post terms,” as “post-Soviet”, or reduced to a dependent variable on Euro-Western relations; that 2019 will be the year Georgia shapes its own growth.
ELN member Ambassador Tedo Japaridze reflects upon the long-standing relationship between Georgia and the United States, and offers his thoughts on the new security challenges facing his country.
Tedo Japaridze argues that whilst an agreement of a NATO Membership Action Plan is unlikely for Georgia, NATO-Georgian cooperation remains important for national and regional security.
Tedo Japaridze argues that despite the modest outcome of the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, there is still a need for Georgia to continue with its reforms. Only by continuing with westernisation can Georgia ever hope to be accepted as a European state.
Tedo Japaridze discusses possible effects of the crisis in Crimea on the energy security of the wider European region.