Georgia has done everything to become a member of NATO, we had 10 times more troops sent to Afghanistan than the country Mr. Rutte represents and was the Prime Minister of. Such a statement made today Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, while responding to the comment of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

"In 2008, when they said the doors were open, 17 years have passed since then, Georgia has done everything, both institutionally and in terms of military rapprochement, and directly by entering wars and fighting alongside NATO soldiers. We had ten times more troops sent to Afghanistan than the country Mr. Rutte represents and the country he was the Prime Minister of.

So, pointing fingers at us and asking questions of us must end. The Georgian people are no longer the kind of people who can tolerate pointing fingers here. The ball is completely in NATO`s court. Georgia has done everything to become a member of NATO.

Georgia has not only expressed its desire, we have this issue written into our constitution, but we see that it suits someone, whether it`s Georgia, Ukraine or another such country, to be "caught in the middle", which actually increases our security risks", - said Shalva Papuashvili.

Mark Rutte said in an interview with Radio Liberty that NATO is concerned about the recent developments in Georgia: “We are very worried, and we have made this clear to the Georgians. We are cooperating with them, and I believe this cooperation provides a channel through which we can express our concerns. Let`s look at the situation as a whole, because alongside Georgia, we also see what is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The situation there is better, including thanks to the work done by President Trump. Therefore, I would view Georgia within the broader context of the South Caucasus".