Georgian delegation continues official visit to the US

After a busy and successful first day of official duties on their visit to the United States of America, the Georgian delegation, led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, continues high level meetings.

Following a meeting with Senator John McCain, Garibashvili and members of the Georgian delegation laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery today.

The Prime Minister has allocated some time from his busy schedule to serve the international media and give interviews to media outlets Reuters and Foreign Policy.

During his discussions with Republican Senator John McCain, the Prime Minister addressed US-Georgian relations and future cooperation prospects.

Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze, the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili and Georgian Ambassador to USA Archil Gegeshidze also attended the meeting.

Senator McCain pledged his full support to the Georgian Government and congratulated them on the democratically-held presidential elections. He expressed his gratitude for Georgia’s contribution to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and said he would fully support Georgia’s aspirations to receive a NATO Membership Action Plan at the end of this year.

The Republican Senator was interested in the borderization process alongside Georgia’s occupied regions and said the United States of America condemned illegal installation of the barbed wire fences.

The Prime Minister and Senator also discussed economic relations and trade between the two countries as well as the prospects of signing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU.

Prime Minister Garibashvili thanked the U.S. Senator for his support and expressed his hope this trend would continue in the future as well.

After the meeting, Garibashvili went to the Arlington National Cemetery and laid a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

General Jeffrey Buchanan from the U.S. Army welcomed Garibashvili to the national cemetery where 330 soldiers participated in the welcoming ceremony. The soldiers fired 19 rounds in honour of the Prime Minister after which the national anthems of Georgia and America were performed.

Garibashvili also visited the National Cemetery museum where he handed over a memorable gift. The head of the ceremony Harry Hardy awarded Garibashvili with an honorary certificate.