Georgia Receives Supporting Messages at Conference in US

Georgia’s success over the past 25 years has been praised by the conference participants, which was held under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation and the German Marshall Fund to celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the US.

Vice President of Research at the Heritage Foundation Kim Holmes said that after the collapse of the Soviet Union the US was among the first to recognize Georgia’s independence in 1991 and a year after that an American embassy was opened in Tbilisi.

“It was the beginning of what turned out to be a very strong, stable and enduring relationship,” he added.

Moreover, Holmes praised Georgia as a beacon of democracy and economic freedom.

“The Georgian Government has pursued the agenda of liberalizing economy, fighting corruption and embracing democracy,” he stated.

Security challenges facing Georgia were also mentioned by Holmes, who said that Georgia has proved to be a staunch ally of the United States, and it has been the second largest contributor to global security after the US.

National Security Advisor to the US Vice President ,Andrea Thompson, spoke about the new administration’s support for Georgia and the priority importance of strategic partnership with Georgia.

She added that shared democratic values are what underpin relations between the two states and that is why Georgia continues to get support from the US.

On behalf of the US she reaffirmed support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its European and Euro-Atlantic integration course.
 
“We support the decision to pursue integration into the Euro-Atlantic Alliance[…]The door is open and you should continue to work towards NATO integration,” she stated.

The White House Representative welcomed the reforms made in the economic sector, judicial reform, and a myriad of other sectors. She also singled out Georgia’s economic progress where it continues to move forward.

The US Congressman Ted Poe also delivered speech at the conference. He said that the United States needs to develop more trade with Georgia.

Executive Director at the McCain Institute for International Leadership and former US permanent representative to NATO, Kurt Volker, said that the US should be as open and supportive as possible to Georgia.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister, MIhkeil Janelidze also addressed the conference participants. According to him, the US has been a firm backer of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Georgia’s successful process of democratic consolidation and economic development.

The minister spoke about the increasing dynamics between the two states and mentioned that the Georgian Prime Minister met with the US President Donald Trump in early May.

“The United States and Georgia share common values and these values are associated with Euro-Atlantic principles,” he said.

Janelidze also spoke about Russia’s aggressive and illegal actions towards Georgia and added that cooperation with the US and European integration will be a guarantee that Georgia will maintain sovereignty and become a model of stability, prosperity and democratic progress in the region.

Evaluated 25 years of friendship and strategic partnership on a @Heritage conference pic.twitter.com/9gL3J2YxQs

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) June 8, 2017

By Thea Morrison