Kvirikashvili: Georgia Is Honored to Be US Strategic Partner
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about the Georgia-America cooperation while opening the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference in Washington.
“Georgia is honored to be one of America's strategic partners. And we are extremely pleased that this annual conference will strengthen and deepen the understanding of our partnership to everyone's benefit,’’ the PM stated.
The main topic of the conference was 100 years of history of independent Georgia, which celebrates its Independence Day on May 26.
“100 years ago this month, Georgia took a leap into the future. We gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Georgia, as turmoil, revolution, and civil war swirled around our small country, powered by forces much larger than ourselves. Our predecessors may or may not have realized at that exciting moment that Georgia's independence-our freedom-would be delayed still further, for nearly two-thirds of a century more. The Red Army swept into Georgia just three years after we reclaimed our statehood, and, at least temporarily, swept our independence away,” the PM said.
He underlined that United States was among the first to recognize Georgia's independence in 1991.
“America supported us when we most needed it - during some of the most trying episodes of our own national consolidation. In the last 27 years, since our declaration of independence, Georgia has had no greater friend than the United States. Together we have crafted what may truly be called a strategic partnership,” he added.
According to Kvirikashvili, for its part, Georgia understands and contributes to the US developing and defending its interests in this region, and democratic values everywhere.
“Georgia honors its part of the partnership bargain by fighting alongside America and its NATO allies in hotspots like Iraq and Afghanistan, where Georgia has suffered more casualties per capita than any NATO country except the United States. We are proud to do so, and to support our common security agenda. We are stronger together than apart: the literal meaning of partnership,” he claimed.
The Georgian Prime Minister expressed hope that the significance of Georgia's unique position and the importance of its strategic partnership with the US will only grow.
“Now is the time to pursue a bilateral trade agreement that will bring economic and security benefits to both our nations. Partnership and strategy go hand-in-hand with peace and stability,” he stated.
By Thea Morrison