White House: “Our support for Georgia is not part of zero-sum game with Russia"

Georgia’s bond with the United States of America is being advanced to new heights following a surprise meeting between Georgia’s Prime Minister and the President of the United States, Barack Obama, amidst political upheaval in Ukraine.

"Our support for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine is not part of some zero-sum game with Russia,” a senior White House official told journalists.

Several Obama-led administration senior officials held a briefing for reporters shortly after the meeting between President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden with Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Georgian delegation.

In the opening comments the high officials stated: "A little while ago the Vice President finished a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili, a meeting that President Obama joined for a portion, where both the President (Obama) and the Vice President (Biden) reaffirmed America’s commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and made clear that the US has a profound interest in Georgia’s success.”

The White House senior officials praised the peaceful transfer of power after the Parliament and Presidential elections in Georgia and assessed it as a "historic achievement for Georgia and for the region as a whole”.

"This was the Prime Minister’s first visit to Washington. He’s only been in office for just a few months, but we wanted to be able to engage the new government early on to demonstrate our strong commitment not just to the new government, but to the people of Georgia and to Georgia’s continued democratic development and economic progress,” they stated.

The Obama Administration declared they had appreciated the actions of Georgian soldiers, who had made as the largest non-NATO contributor to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

"We’re ready to support all of Georgia’s political and party leaders and Georgian civil society as they work to consolidate Georgia’s democratic achievements,” the high officials summed up within the opening comment of the briefing.

"Now, while we did not plan it this way, I’m sure many of you have noticed that these discussions are taking place against the backdrop of what’s happening in Ukraine.”

Concrete and accurate statements were made about relationship within the region and the role of Russia in the European integration of the three former Soviet republics – Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

"Our engagement rather is aimed at supporting the people of these countries as they seek to fulfill their aspirations and make their own choices about their countries’ economic and political futures. Now they’ve chosen a European path, but we do not believe that the decision of these countries to pursue a European path should preclude them from having productive relations with Moscow, a point that we have made to Russian counterparts up and down the chain of command,” the American officials said.

"We don’t believe that any country -- the United States, any European country, or Russia -- can dictate the future of these nations in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. It is up for the people of these countries through the democratic process to make their own decisions.” Photo by PM Garibashvili Press Office. 

At the same time, answering a question about the US policy towards Russia, an Obama Administration senior official noted: "Moldova and Georgia have both chosen to take steps along the path of Euro-Atlantic integration with Association Agreements. The people of Ukraine obviously have made their voices heard loud and clear about the kind of future that they are looking for. 

So the position of the United States has been consistent and clear that we don’t believe that any country -- the United States, any European country, or Russia -- can dictate the future of these nations in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. It is up for the people of these countries through the democratic process to make their own decisions.”

After successfully passing the test for peaceful transfer of power during the elections, the other challenge facing Georgia will be strengthening its democracy and economy.

"We see more opportunities in some ways than challenges because of the successful transfer -- peaceful, democratic transfer of power. It puts Georgia in a position to really deliver for its citizens and to allow them to live up to their potential. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t substantial challenges relating to strengthening the rule of law and relating to making the kinds of economic reforms and economic choices that are required for a sustainable economic future.”

"And really in those two areas -- deepening Georgia’s democracy and modernizing and strengthening Georgia’s economy -- we are mindful of the difficult choices and decisions that are going to face the Prime Minister and his Government. And those were the subjects of intense conversation today between the Vice President and the President and with the [Georgian] Prime Minister,” the high officials stated to media at the White House.

See the full transcript of the press briefing, held at President Obama Administration on 24 February, 2014.