Denmark, Georgia Consider Defense Pact, Increased Economic Cooperation

BALTIMORE, Maryland April 9, 2014 - At a meeting in Tbilisi Tuesday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Denmark Minister of Foreign Affairs Martin Lidegorof. The two nations, sitting at opposite sides of the European Continent, discussed a defense pact between the two nations as well as increased economic cooperation. These talks took place even as Georgia watches the movements of Russian troops massed in a part of Georgia that Russia invaded in 2008. Denmark is in support of Georgia's bid to join the EU. There was no word on Georgia's announced bid to join NATO, a move that is on hold while the Eastern European nation resolves issues it has with former Georgian Prime Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze. Last week, the United States and the United Kingdom mildly rebuked Georgia for renewed attempts to extradite Shevardnadze, with both telling the Garibashvili Government that such efforts were not helpful as it was attempting to join NATO. The West believes Shevardnadze played an important roll in seeing that the dismantling of the former Soviet Union was accomplished without bloodshed. As Russia renews its military operations in the Southeastern European area, Georgia is anxious to line up Defense help whenever the opportunity presents itself.