Trump Welcomes Georgia’s Kvirikashvili to White House
WASHINGTON – Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met with United States President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office on May 8.
The officials discussed significant issues and future plans for US-Georgia relations. Trump emphasized that Georgia is an important ally and a strategic partner of the USA.
“The US President expressed the US Government's full support of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Georgian PM’s press office reported. At the end of the meeting Prime Minister Kvirikashvili invited President Trump to Georgia.
Honored to welcome Georgia Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili to the @WhiteHouse today with @VP Mike Pence. https://t.co/EAPvsrbrUO pic.twitter.com/FnKkuWLFDp
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017
Kvirikashvili also met the US Vice President Mike Pence. The main topic of the meeting was the strategic partnership between Georgia and the US. "The Georgian delegation received assurances from Vice President Pence on deepening the strategic partnership in all fields, including: defense and security cooperation, trade and economic relations, development of democratic institutions, and cultural relations,” official Tbilisi reports. The Vice President also reaffirmed the White House's full support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Mike Pence stated that the United States will continue supporting Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The officials also discussed regional challenges and global security issues, and agreed that a secure and stable Georgia is crucial for the whole region. The parties emphasized the importance of deepening trade and economic relations, including the role of US companies involved in Georgia's strategic infrastructure projects. Additionally, the sides agreed that in the future Georgia and the United States will continue active cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields.
Along with @POTUS, thanked PM @KvirikashviliGi for 872 Georgians fighting w/ NATO in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/ucaDoNnyVa
— Vice President Pence (@VP) May 8, 2017
On May 9 Kvirikashvili met US Senators and the chairman of the US Senate Military Committee, Senator John McCain. McCain noted that Georgia's security and stability are important not only for the region, but for the whole world.
By Thea Morrison