United States is ready to increase support to Georgia

At the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter plenary session held today, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the United States of America was ready to increase support to Georgia in various directions.

"The aid will support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic way – first, support in developing visa free regime with the EU and in the process of borderization. Also, we are ready to support Georgia’s economic reforms in terms of deepening trade and attracting investments, as well as protecting human rights. This would increase Georgia’s reputation,” the State Secretary explained.

PM Garibashvili who co-chaired the session with State Secretary Kerry, said Georgia and the US had common interests and expressed hope cooperation between the two countries would continue successfully.

"I would like to thank you for your support in terms of security, territorial integrity and other directions. This is a strong stimulus for us to move the process of strengthening democracy to a new level,” Garibashvili said.

"Currently 20 percent of Georgia’s territories are occupied by Russia but Georgia will stay with the US. When there was a need to decide on strategic partnership, of course, we have decided in favour of the US. The charter is a framework for various directions of our cooperation,” Garibashvili stated in his address.

He said Georgia would continue to work on those directions actively.

Saying Georgia had an opportunity to once again prove that "democracy is flourishing” in the country, through holding the upcoming self-government elections freely and fairly, the Secretary of State said.

Kerry also called on Russia to fulfil its obligations taken the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia.

"Of course militarization, installation of borders is unacceptable for us,” Kerry said.

The State Secretary said the US Government praised the Georgian Government’s decision for peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The US official said he would visit Georgia this spring.

On a final note, he said he was sure the Georgian Government was leading the country in the right direction.